Well, because I cannot stay away from humor, (All my other stories, aside from CherryBlossom123, are humor. You should read them!) this story has developed quite a few punch lines. If you are not liking this, just tell me, and I will try to avoid the funny-ness.

And for you who are still not quite sure about the whole Itachi killing someone and casting a genjutsu on them to make the look like Sakura thing, read this chapter. If you still have questions, pm me.

Read on!

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9am, Naruto Uzumaki's house

Tsunade shook her head. It seemed to her that these last few hours had bled together until they were hardly distinguishable.

They had been all wrong about Sakura, and now she was dead. Everyone who knew Sakura was in shock, but the worst case was Naruto. The reason no one had found Sakura was that he had fainted when he saw her body. Itachi had picked the perfect victim to host his cruel example, and now Naruto was in the hospital, after going into a comatose state.

However, the facts really hadn't sunk into Tsunade's brain, and she had to see for herself. Steeling herself, the Godaime walked into Naruto's living room.

The blood on the walls made Tsunade dizzy, but she resolved to look at the body. It was horribly mutilated, but pink tresses could still be made out, caked with blood.

Though the Hokage had long conquered her hemophobia, (For you people who have hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, or a fear of big words, hemophobia is a term for 'afraid of blood'.) the smell of Sakura's blood made her nauseous. She leaned over and lifted one of her pale eyelids, exposing a lifeless, emerald orb. Sakura was dead.

Still searching for any kind of clue to confirm the culprit, Tsunade focused a bit of chakra to her eyes. Her vision sharpened, and she spotted a long, black hair. The Godaime picked it off the gore that was Sakura's arm, and examined it. It was indeed long, longer than her hair, and smooth. Definitely Itachi's. Either way, they could run DNA tests.

With a miserable sigh, Tsunade turned to a nearby ANBU.

"I'm done here. Take her away."

The black-ops. nodded and signaled to the other ninja around. One gingerly picked up Sakura's body.

Tsunade walked out quickly, pondering wearily. So it was true. Sakura was really dead… Or was she?

Same time, Akatsuki hideout

"Sakura," a gravely voice alerted the pink-haired konoichi to Kisame's presence in her doorway. Jumping up, Sakura started babbling incoherently.

"I can explain!" she shouted, much to Kisame's amusement. Seeing the blue man's dismissive expression, Sakura stopped talking.

"Don't worry, girl." Kisame grinned. "I didn't get in trouble because of your little breakout."

Sakura scowled. "He let me out!" she protested.

Kisame narrowed his eyes. "Tobi…" he mumbled. Then, to Sakura, he asked, "Did he have a mask? Orange and black?"

Sakura nodded.

"At least he saved my butt afterwards…"

By this time, Sakura was used to his incomprehensible rantings, and so just ignored that last part.

"Do you remember anything from last night?" Kisame asked her, walking over and sitting down in the chair next to Sakura's bed.

"Well…" Sakura blushed. "I got lost in here, but I eventually stumbled upon Itachi's room." Her eyes steeled for a moment, and then she continued. "I was tired by ten, and I accidentally fell asleep on his bed."

She left out her strange nightmare. It was the same one about Itachi, only this time, instead of choking her, he picked her up and brought her back to her bed in the Akatsuki's hideout. The whole thing was very strange, and she preferred not to talk about it.

"Then I woke up here! Did you take me back?" Sakura asked, cocking her head at Kisame.

"No," he said curiously. "Itachi did."

The color drained from Sakura's face. "I-Itachi?!"

Kisame nodded. They were both silent for a time.

"Why would he do something like that?" Sakura asked finally, looking at her feet.

"It may not seem like it…" Kisame said hesitantly. "But I think that Itachi is… in love with you."

Sakura's eyes widened.

Kisame caught himself staring at those wide emerald eyes. Surely, he wasn't going to turn into a sap too?

"What are you looking at?" Sakura asked sharply.

Kisame turned an odd purple color. It took Sakura a minute to realize that he was blushing.

"Are you blushing?" she teased. "You look like an eggplant!"

Kisame turned a darker shade of violet.

"Oh, buzz off, girl!" he muttered, and ran out of her room, leaving a giggling Sakura behind him.

Noon, Hokage Mansion

"Hokage-sama!" Tsunade looked up reluctantly fro her desk, expecting more bad news.

But this time, Shizune looked unusually happy.

"What is it?"

"One of the black ops. had enough sense to think of doing an anti-illusion jutsu!" Shizune said excitedly. "It wasn't really Sakura's body!"

Tsunade's heart leapt with joy. "Are you serious?"

"Of course!" Tsunade was silent.

"But then… that means that someone wants us to think that she's dead…" The Godaime said slowly.

"Unfortunately, yes. It gives us the evidence we needed to prove Sakura has deserted." Shizune confirmed. Tsunade nodded.

"But still… Sakura's alive!"

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And so, Konoha is now aware of Itachi's cruel practical joke. And what's this? Are Sakura and Kisame flirting?! -Que dramatic music- What will Itachi think about this? Or is he too oblivious to notice? And is will Sakura finally accept that maybe Itachi isn't so bad? Are the Akatsuki going to keep her cooped up inside that room forever? All these questions and more shall be answered in the next chapter of... ScarletNinja!!!

Sorry... Pretending I'm an announcer-guy is just too much fun! Well, anyway, please keep reading and review!