Senko: A reviewer mentioned to me about how long I intend to make the story before Itachi and Sakura fall in love. I'm unsure of it right now, but I can say that chances are the romance will not be that obvious (meaning there won't be a lot of kissing or mushy scenes or making out). Even though I read these types of stories, I personally feel that it's somehow impossible for Itachi or any of the cold-hearted characters to see Sakura and think she's beautiful and then just fall in love with her.
ninjaxbunny: I LOVE YOU AND YOUR REVIEWS! ;)
Blacksheep18: Pst. You know what? I really took into consideration your advice. I wasn't sure how I would make this chapter. I knew that I wanted to develop the romance, but I wasn't sure how. And your review inspired me to make this chapter!
neon kun: I must fear you because you have my sn T-T you could bother me endlessly! LOL! So here I'm updating ;D heyhey, neon kun, I can spoil my story for you if you ask me ;D
lilmisssushi: OMG! I would sooo love to see that pic!
The Squabbit: I'm sorry! T-T Plz dun kill meh!
Thanks to Phantomica, Ivory Black aka Torri-Chiob..., Iccena, grim reaper sakura, bloodstainedmoon, Mistress DragonFlame, animemistress419, Kunai-to-the-Heart, Sachmet, konohaGiRL, Itachi's Poison, Baka's ANgel, narutofan4ever, EnV, Hao'sAnjul, blackXheart, Jessi, wIcked angel, and crazy for reviewing!
To everyone who laughed about the tree: LOL! It just totally popped in my head, you know? I mean, Gaara's in a desert kind of place, right? And the desert doesn't have that many plants or trees (right? o.O). So, yep.
Hm...it's March 28 and it's 10:15 P.M. right now...so, it's still Sakura-chan's bday! xD HAPPY BDAY, SAKURA-CHAN!
"Dialogue" - Quotes
Italics - emphasis, thoughts, Naruto's imagination
Disclaimer: No own.
Chapter 7
Sakura, Itachi, Naruto, and Sasuke barely escaped Gaara's furious wrath. After much restraint from Temari and Kankuro Gaara was able to calm down, although Sakura doubted Gaara would ever forgive them.
A couple days passed by since the tree incident. As usual the Konoha ninja spent their days trying to keep an eye on Kisame, and as usual Sakura had to spend her days by Itachi's side. She had come to realize that Itachi wasn't such a bad person at all. Sure, he doesn't really reply, he seems a bit too mature to joke around with, he's serious, and his immense strength is enough to make another person avoid even talking to him. After spending so many hours with Itachi, she noticed that he was just lonely. Of course she only thought like this because he didn't kill his family in this world, but the point is that either way Itachi was still lonely. No one bothered to talk to him or make small conversation. It seemed to her as though they only thought of him as a tool and thought he had no life aside from training and missions. Now she began to see why he hardly talked at all.
He reminded her too much of her younger self. The only difference was that he was powerful when she was weak and he had no one while she found Ino. As a child Sakura was always picked on because of her "oversized" forehead, but this bullying wouldn't have began in the first place if only Sakura was strong enough to defend herself. She was lonely with no friends to talk to or play with. Just like her, Itachi was alone and didn't really have anyone to talk to or play with. She was isolated because everyone deemed her too weak while he was left alone because everyone deemed him too powerful. Sakura couldn't stand watching Itachi like this, so she set a mini goal for herself: become Itachi's friend. Sakura's mini goal had almost gotten her killed MANY times, although she didn't know it.
"When I was smaller, my grandma gave me a teddy bear that looks exactly like that one!" Sakura beamed, pointing to a teddy bear display at a store. "When I was...hm, how old again? I think six. Yeah, six! My grandma gave me a teddy bear just like that one for my birthday and she said she made it for me because teddy bears are cute and cuddly and I am cute and cuddly just like a teddy bear."
Itachi stood there annoyed. He didn't know why the hell she told him that. He could care less.
"What do you think? I mean, I always choose pink; I just love pink. But then Ino-pig says that I have too much pink. I have about five pink sweaters, fifteen pink tops, five pink dresses, three pink capris, two pink knee-high skirts, a pink miniskirt, two pink bags, three pink high heels, and the majority of my hair accessories and underwear is pink! Should I really begin to buy clothes of more color?" Sakura held up a pink and a blue top.
Itachi stood there annoyed. Why the hell would he care? Why the hell is she talking about her underwear? She should stop saying all this stupid crap that he doesn't care about or else he might kill her. He restrained himself from using his Mangekyou Sharingan on her. And believe me he restrained himself very hard.
"I mean, don't you think they should make pink kunais and shurikens? It would be so awesome! It's just so boring with dull kunais and shurikens that are always...what is it, gray or dark blue or black? Anyway, if they begin to make weapons in pink or different colors, I'm sure that more people would buy the products. Don't you think so?" Sakura commented, while Itachi and Sakura were in a ninja store that sells weapons.
Itachi stood there annoyed. What the hell? Pink kunais and shurikens? Ew. Why do you need to make weapons in different colors when in the end they would turn to red? This girl sure has the most wierd and bizarre ideas ever. Quite amusing to be honest, but he was still annoyed by her excessive talking.
"And then Ino kept saying how I should blend in more with the world, ya know? She says my hair is too pink and that nobody has pink hair. She says that ninjas need to be able to move quickly, kill, defend, spy, and blend in with the environment, and that my pink hair does not blend well in the environment and that it could let the enemy find me," Sakura said, while walking down the street with Itachi.
Itachi inwardly sighed and grumbled. This girl...has got to have the most annoying and stupidest and retardest topics ever. Is retardest even a word? Oh god, he's been infected with her stupidity. He must end it right here and now before he loses his tremendous and awesome intelligence and power.
Sakura sighed sadly. "Maybe I really should change my hair. I'm thinking about blonde. Yeah, and while I'm at that maybe I should get some of them contacts that change my eye color. I should get blue eyes and be the next Ino. Better yet, I should get some that's red. Oh! Do you think they have Sharingan-shaped ones? I could get some and then I will fool everyone and then they'll think I have Sharingan!"
Hmm...blonde hair? That would really not suit her at all. It would be just plain wierd to see a blonde Sakura. Sharingan eyes? That's actually a pretty good idea. He could just imagine a blonde Sakura with Sharingan eyes.
Itachi let out a small chuckled at the image. "You should dye your hair blonde and get Sharingan eyes."
Sakura stared in disbelief. He answered! HE ANSWERED! Yayness for Sakura! "You know what, I should dye my hair dark blue instead. That ways we could see how it'd look like if we somehow have a daughter. Hey! You should dye your hair pink, and then we could see how it'd look like if we somehow have a son!"
Itachi blinked. "...no."
Sakura laughed.
"Alright, so here's the plan," Sakura whispered to Hinata. "Target Dumbass, aka Naruto, will be at Ninja For Dummies area at the bookstore for two more minutes. Hinata-chan, you will have one hour to overcome your fear and shyness enough to ask Naruto out on a date."
Hinata blushed, staring down at the ground. "Uh...uhm, uhm, I'm s-sorry if I...if I fail..."
"Don't worry, Hinata-chan! You cannot fail. Even if you think you failed, you actually succeeded. I have devised a foolproof plan gauranteed to get you a date with Target Dumbass tonight."
"Uh, uhm, okay..." Hinata said. She inhaled, gathering her almost nonexistent bravery. She and Sakura walked into the Ninja for Dummies section of the bookstore and approached Target Dumbass.
"Hey Hinata-chan, Sakura-chan!" Naruto beamed, holding the book Throwing Shurikens for Dummies in his hands.
"Hey," Hinata and Sakura greeted him. The three stopped and stared at one another for a few minutes. Silence dominated the atmosphere and Sakura could have swore she began to hear the clock's tickings.
Finally Hinata spoke. "Uh...uhm, uhm, N-N-Naruto-kun...uhm...uhm...uhm, t-t-t-t-t-ton-n-night...uhm, uhm, Na-Naruto-kun, uhm..."
"Eh? What is it, Hinata-chan?" Naruto asked.
Hinata blushed deeply, looking at the ground and fidgeting with her fingers. "Well, uhm, t-t-tonight...if-if-if uhm...N-Naruto-kun...uhm, if, uhm...uh...I, uh, I just...uhm..."
"Huh?" Naruto raised an eyebrow.
Sakura sighed hopelessly. She then put on her cute and irrestitable smile. "Na-ru-to! Uhm...you see, what she means to say is that Itachi-kun and I are going to be on our first date tonight and...well, it's gonna be a bit awkward. This would be my first date ever and I just thought that maybe if you and Hinata-chan came along I would feel more comfortable."
Naruto's eyes widened in fear. "N-N-No, Sakura-chan! Are you trying to get me killed? Does our friendship mean nothing to you? Do you really want me to die at such a young age? Doesn't my hotness make you want to kill yourself for me?" He faked a sob.
Sakura glared. She just couldn't understand why and how Hinata came to develop feelings for him. Sakura faked an even more hopeless sob than Naruto's. "H-How could you Naruto? I thought that we're friends! How can you say this? This is my very first date! Who knows what could happen...or...or what Itachi-kun could do to me after the date! I mean, after the date we would be heading off to our bed and I'm going to be looking totally irresistable tonight. He might just...just grab me and kiss me and then rip off my shirt and then take off my-"
Naruto covered his ears and shook his head violently. "NO! NO! NO! Don't say anymore, Sakura-chan! I'll go with you! I'll go on a double date with you and your evil fiancee! He will not touch you at all!"
"Great!" Sakura beamed. "Meet us at the ramen restaurant across the street from here at seven o'clock sharp."
Totally foolproof.
"Itachi-kun, will you go on a date with me tonight?" Sakura asked.
The two were in their room and Itachi was reading a scroll when Sakura appeared. He glanced at her quickly.
"No."
"What? Aww..." Sakura pouted. "Now I look like such a fool...Naruto was saying how he and Hinata-chan are the better couple and I told him that we were obviously the better couple! What a blow to our pride as a couple..."
No response.
"I mean can't you at least go? You don't have to do anything mushy. Just go so that the blow to our pride as a couple wouldn't hurt so much."
"...fine."
Yep. Totally foolproof.
Hinata was blushing. I...I...I'm actually on a date with...with N-Naruto-kun!
Sakura was eating. Man, the ramen here is better than Ichiraku's!
Itachi was uncomfortable. Is he checking me out? Don't tell me I'm now attracting males too...
Naruto was giving Itachi a death glare and eyeing his every move. You shall not touch Sakura-chan!
"So, Hinata-chan, is your date going well?" Sakura said, after finishing eating.
"Y-Y-Yes, it's going perfect," Hinata blushed even deeper.
Itachi is such an awful date. I bet he's really coming on this date just to...to...with Sakura-chan---NO! Naruto screamed inside his head. He glared at Itachi one more time before deciding to show off to Itachi that he, Uzumaki Itachi, is a way much better and respectful man than Itachi. Naruto beamed at Hinata. "Hinata-chan, you are so cute tonight!"
Hinata blushed.
This was unacceptable. Itachi will not lose to someone like Naruto. He looked over at Sakura. "Sakura, you look beautiful tonight. More stunning than usual."
"Is that a new perfume, Hinata-chan?"
"Is that a new haircut, Sakura?"
Naruto was glared intensely at Itachi while Itachi showed no signs on any emotions, although it was obvious in his actions that he didn't want to be seen as inferior to Naruto.
"So, uh...Naruto, you and Hinata-chan seems to be getting along well. I think that you two should seriously consider starting a deep relationship," Sakura said, breaking the two men's idiotic fight.
"Yes, you're right, Sakura-chan," Naruto smiled at Sakura, and then glared at Itachi. "Hinata-chan and I will have a deep relationship of love, trust, and respect."
"Why would you need respect if the other person is weaker? Love is for the weak," Itachi said
Oh no, he really will do something to Sakura-chan! Naruto panicked. "Well, in a real relationship, Itachi, you have to respect the other person's wishes and desires. Love is not for the weak, it makes someone stronger."
"Love only slows someone down. Ninjas, especially, should not fall in love. Look what love did to Sakura in her genin days."
"What! How did you know that I...I..." Sakura couldn't finish the sentence.
"Kakashi told me about how you developed a crush on my little brother and then fell hopelessly in love with...Shikamaru for about a year."
What! So if Itachi didn't kill his family, she would have ended up falling in love with Shikamaru? What would she see in him?
"Well," Naruto began, "if you look at it this way, it was because of love that Sakura-chan decided she wanted to be stronger. She wanted to prove to your bastard brother and to Shikamaru that she can be strong."
"That's not love, that's anger."
"But there wouldn't have been any anger if there wasn't love."
"Love doesn't make anger; it made her weak and her weakness made anger."
Sakura decided to break up this pointless fight. "Alright that's enough. Stop this stupid fight. Let's just pay the bill and head back."
"Okay, then," Naruto said, getting up to pay the bill. "It's on me."
In the meantime, while Naruto was paying the bill Hinata, Itachi, and Sakura waited by the exit for him. Itachi noticed something around Sakura's right wrist.
"New bracelet?" he asked.
"Yep! I bought it this afternoon when I passed by the antique shop. The lady said that it will give me good luck! Plus, it's so cute I just couldn't help it! Here, look!" She raised her right wrist to show Itachi.
Itachi gently grasped her right wrist to examine the bracelet. It was a single bracelet consisting of two thin, black plastic straps entertwining each other. A single silver heart hung from the straps.
Meanwhile, Naruto just finished paying the bill. He was walking towards Hinata, Itachi, and Sakura when hesaw Itachi holding Sakura's right wrist. Being the paranoid and caring friend he was, this is how Naruto perceived the situation even though Sakura was the one who held up her wrist to Itachi:
Itachi had an evil look of lust in his eyes and he had fangs for his teeth and then on his head were two horns and he had black wings and he had a tail and in his right arm he held a gigantic pitchfork. Poor, innocent Sakura-chan was sobbing as the devil Itachi's lefthand reached for Sakura's fragile right wrist and then he jerked Sakura towards him and then he intensely kissed Sakura-chan and then he---
"NOOOOO! You stay away from Sakura-chan!" Naruto yelled, approaching Itachi and Sakura.
Itachi and Sakura looked at Naruto.
"Oh! Naruto! I was just showing Itachi-kun my new bracelet!" Sakura beamed, holding her right wrist in front of Naruto's face. "Isn't it cute?"
"What!" Naruto exclaimed in disbelief. "Sakura-chan, don't try to cover for him! I saw what he did! He jerked your hand and pulled you towards him and then he...he..."
"He what?" Sakura asked, curious to discover whatever the hell Naruto was thinking of. "I was just showing him my new bracelet."
"Oh, uh...well, uh, that's a really pretty bracelet, Sakura-chan!"
Sakura's eyes began to form a glare. "What were you thinking, huh, Naruto?"
Naruto let out a nervous laughter. "Uh...eheheh..."
"AH! I can't believe I thought that!" Naruto exclaimed for the hundredth time, hitting his head with his palms.
"It...it's okay...N-Naruto-kun. You were just w-worried about Sakura-chan..." Hinata tried to comfort him.
After discovering what Naruto had been thinking, Sakura was fuming and she and Itachi left straight back to Gaara's place. They had left Hinata and Naruto alone.
"AGH! Everything about this date went wrong! Only two things went right! TWO!" Naruto yelled.
"Oh...what, what was that?"
Naruto deeply inhaled and then exhaled. He turned to face Hinata and suddenly all signs of anger and frustration seemed to disappear. "Well...you're my date and you looked really cute."
"Oh...ah..." Hinata stared down at the ground, blushing.
It wasn't long before Naruto and Hinata reached Gaara's place. They stopped before entering Gaara's house.
"Tonight went okay, don't you think? We should go on more dates together, and I am never doing a double date involving Itachi," Naruto shuddered.
Hinata smiled. "Y-Yeah...we...we should do this again."
In a swift motion, Naruto leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheeck. He grinned. "I guess that's three things that went right on this date."
And then he opened the door and entered, leaving a flustered Hinata.
"Naruto can be so stupid!" Sakura complained to Itachi, once they were in their room. "And he made that big commotion right in the restuarant! Argh! I really don't see what Hinata-chan sees in him! How could he have thought that you were gonna...gonna, like...ARGH!"
Itachi didn't reply. Instead he simply ignored her and quickly changed into something appropriate for sleeping and then flopped down on his sleeping area next to the bed. Sakura was really annoying him, but what he didn't notice was that as time went by he didn't really care that much about how much she talked. He was slowly getting accustomed to hearing her voice, and her voice was slowly, luring him into a trap called love.
Senko: That's all for now, folks! Please review!