Sakura sped through the trees, pushing chakra to her legs to help her move faster. Her goal was to reach the little teahouse before nightfall. Already, she had spent a day traveling and she couldn't afford to waste any more time.

She was busy concentrating on reaching her destination within a reasonable time frame, but her focus was shattered when her pestering inner-self decided to speak up.

So…what's the plan?

Sakura scowled at her inner thoughts, which seemed to perk up at the most inopportune moments. Angry at the disturbance, she chose to ignore the question.

Your silence is very reassuring…

Shut up! I'm trying to concentrate!

Wow. Good plan.

Do you mind? I don't need your wise-ass remarks right now. I'll think of something when I actually GET there. With all your interruptions, I won't make it in time!

So touchy…

Sakura frowned, seething silently. Instead of making an irritated retort, she channeled her anger into the drive to move faster.

Her fingers brushed lightly against the silver band on her wrist.

She needed answers. Now.

- x -

It became nightfall just as Sakura stopped for the night, staking out the teahouse located a short 10 yards away. She began unpacking the basics: a tent, sleeping bag, and fire-starting paraphernalia. She had decided to pack lightly and only brought along the necessities.

Do you have a plan now?

THIS is my plan! Sheesh!

I don't get it. How is this your plan?

Sakura rolled her eyes. She was ninety-nine percent sure that her inner-self was just feigning ignorance to piss her off. Though she was too stubborn to admit it, it was working. Ever since that ridiculously confusing meeting, Sakura had been impatiently on edge. The whole situation was working her nerves.

I'm just going to stake out the teahouse, okay? I'm going to observe its patrons and see if he's a regular. If he's a recurring customer, we might have some luck getting answers.

He's Uchiha Itachi. He's not one to let people interrogate himself…

Well, we're just going to have to go with it because I don't have anything else.

Sakura stomped around her camping area, gathering sticks and throwing them in a pile for her fire. She was a little annoyed because inner-Sakura had a point…

It really didn't mean anything if she saw him again. What could she do? Nothing! He would most likely laugh at her pathetic attempt and then kill her. She paled at the thought. Sakura wanted answers…but not at the expense of her life.

She sighed, running a hand warily through her pink tresses. Clearly, she hadn't thought it through. The repercussions weren't taken into account. She felt absolutely ridiculous, sitting on the ground, looking for an S-Class criminal.

Sakura was still wallowing in her own self-pity when she heard a commotion going on by the teahouse. Its owner, the sleazy bartender, was standing right outside the door of the teahouse, yelling animatedly at someone. She shook her head and wondered if he even had the brains to know that most of the people who frequent his bar were relatively powerful rogues. Yelling at one wouldn't bring about the best outcome.

Standing up, Sakura peered through the underbrush, trying to get a better look at the source of the discord. A silhouetted figure towered over the feeble-looking bartender, cloaked in shadow. She could just barely make out the dark clothing and…red design.

He was here.

She gasped at her realization, frozen in awe. She was so close to her goal – to getting answers. Sakura remained crouched by the base of a tree, staring in wonder. Suddenly, the figure's eyes flashed a menacing red and the bartender fell silent. Her eyes widened in horror. Eliminating obstacles had become so incredibly easy for Uchiha Itachi.

He was a callous killing machine.

Though she was horrified to see him use his Mangekyou Sharingan, Sakura couldn't seem to tear her eyes away. For a fraction of a second, he looked up and stared directly at her, his blood-red eyes piercing through her soul. But, it was a fleeting moment, so short she barely thought it had happened. The wind shifted slightly and he was gone, leaving behind only the faint flapping of his cloak.

She blinked in surprise. Had he truly seen her? Or was it just a coincidence? She couldn't tell, but the bright crimson eyes had burned themselves into her vision.

In that split second, she felt like he had read her thoughts, delving into her darkest secrets. She shuddered at the thought. Impossible.

"There's no way he could have seen me," she whispered to herself.

After having made eye contact with him, Sakura was a little unsettled. Sitting near the edge of the forest felt unsafe, but she had no other choice. She didn't have the strength to make it back to Konoha in one shot.

-x-

A/N: Well, this certainly isn't what I had originally planned to write about, but this is how it turned out. Finally, the vague idea that got me started is forming into a more structured plot line. I guess we'll have to wait to find out how it all unfolds :3