Yahoo!!! Chapter 3 is here! And I name it… The Challenge!

Please feel free to give a review. Also, if you see something wrong with my grammar or spelling, please tell. I'm only human after all.

So sorry if I haven't posted it for, like, a while. You see, I just feel like I don't know what'll happen next.

I don't own Naruto or its characters. I only own the plot for this story.

Anyway, on with the story!

Sakura came in after a while. She held a glass of water and a measuring cup in her hand. It was halfway full of green liquid. "Here. Drink this… it'll make you feel better over the next 6 hours."

Itachi sat upright and drank the medicine. "What was that thing? It's horrible." He said after he had drunk the medicine.

Although he didn't make a face, Sakura could hear the disgust in his voice. She smiled when she realized that he was just like Sasuke when Naruto was around. He was trying to be tough even if it already hurt.

Itachi noticed her sweet, innocent smile. "What?" He said. Sakura handed him the glass of water and he drank as she said, "It's nothing. You know… you're just like Sasuke when I'm treating him. Both of you are—"

Itachi frowned when Sakura said Sasuke's name. Sakura immediately stopped when she saw him. "S-sorry…" she said quietly. "Was that supposed to be a taboo word?"

Itachi changed his frown into a slightly smiling face and looked away. "Maybe… I don't like being compared to him."

Sakura sighed, "Oh, okay. Wait here." She said. She came back after a few minutes with a small basin filled halfway with cold water and a face towel.

"Here." Sakura said as she squeezed out water from the towel. "Put it around your body so the warmth will come out."

Itachi took the small towel and did as she said. Itachi rolled over as to the direction of the wall beside his bed and pulled back the sheets and went to a light sleep. Sakura stared at him. She remembered Sasuke because of their resemblances which really made them look a lot alike.

She remembered how Sasuke comes over to her house every other week and gives her flowers then asks her out to lunch. She remembered how he'd stay by her side every time they'd be in a battle on a mission. And she remembered most how he would tell her to be careful and he'd always wait for her every time she'd go to a separate mission.

Sakura stayed there and stared at the blanket hiding a body under it. She soon realized that she had been staring at him to long. So she just stood up and left the silent room, leaving the basin on the side table.

Kisame had his head in the fridge, looking for food, when she came out. "Kisame-san…" Sakura said, "Would you care to tell me why Itachi-kun killed his whole clan? Have you eaten breakfast anyway?"

"Well, yeah. But I'm still hungry." Kisame said, finally taking his head out of the fridge, "And why would you like to know his story anyway? Don't tell me something's going on here…"

"Well… Yeah… I guess you could say that. But it's not anything that's serious anyway." Sakura said unsurely. "But can you please tell me?"

"First off… let me ask you a question first. Why do you call him Itachi-kun?" Kisame asked teasingly.

"I call him that for no reason. I guess it's that he's Sasuke's brother, that's why." Sakura answered, also unsurely. "Now answer my question."

"Okay, okay. I don't know that much about him so I won't be able to answer all your questions…" Kisame said, "But to be honest with you…"

Sakura was expecting him to tell her Itachi's whole story. But Kisame's answer was, "I know nothing. He only told me to shut my mouth in case anyone asks."

Sakura's head automatically went down. 'What a disappointment…' Sakura thought. 'I guess I'll just have to ask him directly. But—'

"I think you'll have to wait for some time first. He might get suspicious." Inner Sakura said from inside her Outer self. "Looks like it's gonna take a long time anyway."

"Oh," Kisame said which made Sakura be pulled back into reality. "Sakura-san, I'd like to tell you something. Come closer…" Kisame beckoned her closer as Inner Sakura had a conversation with her outer self again.

"You think it's a trap he's getting us into?" Inner Sakura asked doubtfully.

'I don't know, but let's go.' Sakura thought to her Inner Self. She came closer to Kisame. He crouched till his mouth was level with her left ear and whispered, "Last night, Itachi was shivering and shaking like crazy. I told him I'd call you but he said told that I should just let you know in the morning."

With that, Kisame stood straight again. Both of them stared at each other for a couple of minutes in silence. Sakura chose to break the silence, "Is that true? Did he really tell you off last night?"

"Shhh!" Kisame hissed with his forefinger on his lips. Then he whispered back, "Yeah. You should've seen him like that. I've never seen him so… sad… and angry and… regretful… all at the same time before."

Sakura didn't know what to say. 'Is it true? I mean how could he be like that?' Sakura thought. 'Looks like his question for me last night really did take up a lot of his courage and determination.'

"And he's an Akatsuki for god's sake!" Inner Sakura said, "Maybe your answer bothered him… even in his dreams. Your fault!"

'Shut up! It wouldn't be my fault if he kept thinking about me at night!' Sakura snapped back at her Inner self. She gasped. Kisame was already back to searching around the place for food. He was searching in the cabinets above the sink this time.

'What did you mean by 'if he kept thinking about you?'' Inner Sakura asked teasingly. 'Did you mean that he is concerned about you? Or he's in love with you? Or whatever else it can be?"

'No, I didn't mean any of those.' Sakura thought. "Kisame-san… I'll just be in my room in case if Itachi-kun needs me, ok?" Sakura said to Kisame.

"Ok." Kisame answered back. Then he thought, 'Recently, I've noticed that Uchiha's acting weird. Something must really be going on with those two. I bet they're starting to fall for each other… hehe. Maybe I could help them realize it. At least I won't stay bored for long…'

Sakura sat down quietly in her bed. Suddenly thinking about Sasuke, she felt that he was worried about her. She remembered that time, when she was out with him.

It was Friday morning, two days after Sasuke had come back. He had already asked her out. She was all excited and nervous since it was her first date with Sasuke. He said he'd pick her up. So he came… early which got Sakura rushing down clumsily. She had been ready just 2 minutes ago and was already checking herself out in front of her mirror.

They walked around the village for a while and soon were seated in a restaurant not far from the main gate. Sasuke ordered his meal then asked her what she wanted. Sakura said she'll just go for a salad and diet cola. They talked about what she and Naruto had been doing when Sasuke was with Orochimaru. They also talked about what Sasuke had been doing in Orochimaru's lair. Sakura had kept staring at Sasuke as he explained further and further. Same went for Sasuke when Sakura explained.

But all the while, Naruto was spying on them. And only did he showed up when they were about to kiss later that night on the highest building in the village, (excluding the Hokage's) after eating dinner at the same restaurant, racing after each other around the village, helping an old lady, and jumping above rooftops in a contest they both had against each other.

After they had shaken off Naruto, Sasuke lead the way to Sakura's house. She kissed him on the cheek 'goodnight' and they both parted. That night, Sakura couldn't sleep at all. She stayed up till almost 12:30 am and kept dreaming of Sasuke while she slept. Then the next day, Ino went to her house and told her that she saw both of them in the restaurant the previous night.

Sakura spilled all the amazing things that happened to her and her dream boy. Ino was really jealous; she now regrets that she had given up on chasing after Sasuke since he left Konoha. After a while of chatting with Ino while preparing, someone knocked on Sakura's front door.

Ino volunteered to answer it. She was dumbfounded when she saw Uchiha Sasuke standing in front of her, dressed in a black tuxedo, with a beautiful red rose in his hand. "Is Sakura-chan there?" Sasuke said in a gentle, handsome, cool voice with a background of beautiful floating bubbles everywhere around him. But that was just Ino's imagination.

But Sasuke was really holding a rose but he didn't even say anything yet. And when she blinked the second time, there weren't any bubbles around him. But he surely was wearing a tux. "S-S-Sasuke-kun! P-Please come i-in…" Ino said in a shocked voice.

"Where's Sakura-chan?" Sasuke asked. "W-well… she's—" Ino started but she was, again, dumbfounded when she saw Sakura descending from the staircase. Ino hasn't seen Sakura ever since she went in the shower. And now, Sakura was wearing the dress Ino gave her 2 weeks ago, although, she had never seen Sakura wear it.

The dress was dark blue and it was all glittery, especially the top. It reached until Sakura's mid-thigh. She also wore a pair of black gloves that reached up till just above her elbow. She was wearing a new pair of black, glittery sandals that went well with her glittery dress. And Sakura had her hair tied back in a well-groomed ponytail except for the hair level with her face (or the two hairs that act like her bangs). Sakura was also carrying a small hand bag that, like everything else did, matched very well with her dress.

When she reached the lowest step, Sasuke walked to her gracefully and reached her right hand and kissed it. Ino was frozen on the spot, staring at the two. "Let's go, Sakura-chan." Sasuke said then he led Sakura to the door. Once they were just outside, Sakura turned back to Ino, who still stared at the couple with great admiration and awe and… disbelieve, "Ino, please take care of the house. Thanks!"

Then Sasuke, who still held Sakura's hand, threw a smoke bomb at the floor and after the smoke had gone, the pair had gone. Ino stared at the same spot for a moment and after that, she had spread the news to everyone she knew, most especially, the girls.

Sakura laughed at the thought. Ino had become mad at her and never talked to her for a month straight because Sakura never told Ino that she had a date with Sasuke. But after that, Ino forgave her and they both became friends again.

Sakura soon remembered about Itachi. And recalling the thought, she wondered how Itachi would look like if he was in a tuxedo. 'Would he be as handsome as Sasuke-kun? Or would he be better in his Akatsuki cloak?' Sakura asked herself.

"I'd say he'd look a lot better if he were to loose his lame attitude and be nicer." Inner Sakura said. "But I guess he is better off in a tux…"

Then Sakura laughed inwardly. "How did I ever get to that?" She giggled. "Anyway, I've got to get back to treating Itachi-kun." Then she went out of the room and went back to Itachi's.

She was shocked when Itachi wasn't at his bed. "Uh-oh…" Sakura muttered to herself. "This… is… bad!" Sakura screamed. She quickly went out to find Kisame. When she found him, she asked about Itachi. "Huh? He's gone?" Kisame said with a voice that showed that he didn't have a care in the world, "Well… maybe he's in the bathroom…"

Sakura rushed to every bathroom she knew in the house. But she didn't find Itachi anywhere, not even in any other room, so she went back to ask Kisame. "Where is he?" Sakura asked.

"Relax kid. Maybe he's outside. Or… he's in his hiding place…" Kisame said, then he turned to Sakura and pretended to be a scary ghost. "It's filled with spider webs and there are lots of ghosts there! Also, it's very dark and eerie there… especially at night when the ghosts and ghouls come out and make scary noises. Hahaha!"

Sakura hit him in the head and he immediately stopped laughing like crazy. "Don't talk nonsense! I'm asking you where he may be if he's not in the house!" Sakura told him angrily. "Where is his hiding place or whatever you call it?!"

Kisame stood up from falling from Sakura's hit. "Ok, ok. I'll tell you. Geez, chill out would you?" said Kisame as he rubbed his head. "Ok, he doesn't have a hiding place. But he likes to stay outside by the tree… if ever we stayed here, that is."

Sakura went out immediately and looked around, but she couldn't find Itachi on the tree. "You sure are slow in finding people." said a familiar voice behind Sakura. She looked around and saw Itachi, standing on the roof. "Come up." He told Sakura.

'Sheesh… who's he to order me around!?' Sakura thought bitterly. "You were gonna go up there anyway, right?" Inner Sakura asked. 'Yeah, whatever.' Sakura thought back.

So she jumped up to the rooftop and stood in front of Itachi. "Why aren't you back in your room? Anyway," Sakura said, thinking that if she sounded a little too concerned, he'd get suspicious. "What do you want? Why are you here and why'd you bring me here?"

"Hm. I didn't bring you here." Itachi said. "You came here on your own. You were looking for me and you got yourself here."

"No, you brought me here. Yes, I was looking for you but you stayed quiet here so I came here to find you…" Sakura said swiftly that she knew he'd never catch it. "So… in other words, you still brought me here. But why?"

"Hmm… I didn't really intend on 'bringing' you here." Itachi said as he didn't take off his gaze from her. "All I want was peace and quiet. That's all really."

They both stared at each other for a while. Sakura had an idea. She was looking for fun anyway so she suggested, "Wanna spar? I'm bored…"

Itachi was most unusually not in the mood… again. But he agreed to spar with Sakura anyway. "Maybe tonight… You should get ready because I won't consider myself victorious unless my enemy is…"

Sakura gulped. She knew that Itachi would say 'dead' but she was wrong. "Knocked-out." Itachi finished as he grinned. "Hm. Let me guess… you thought I was going to say 'dead', didn't you?"

"Y-yeah… you got me there. Hehe." Sakura said, feeling relived, "Tonight is fine with me… as long as you make it interesting."

'I sure will.' Itachi thought. "Ok. I'll be waiting." Itachi said then he jumped down from the roof to get inside. Sakura stayed there and waited till he had gone. "Phew…" she sighed, then she remembered that Itachi was sick, "Ah! I forgot about that! Why did I forget? He still needs to be treated! Oh no! Is he killing himself!?" Sakura screamed as she shook herself left and right and either hand on her head.

"I bet he did something… or you really are getting old. Hehe." Inner Sakura teased.

'Shut up! If I am then you are!" Sakura snapped back at her Inner self. "Oh… That's too bad then… hihihihi" Inner Sakura giggled like crazy.

"Whatever, I guess. Time to go in." Sakura said to herself. When she got in, Kisame was laughing like crazy and Itachi was standing just in front of the door to his room. He looked really irritated and annoyed by Kisame's laughing.

"What's going on?" Sakura asked Itachi, "What's wrong with him?"

Itachi grunted, "It's nothing, he's just gone cuckoo, that's all." Then Itachi glared at Kisame (like he's gonna kill him) one more time and went into his room. Kisame just laughed and laughed and laughed till he can't take it anymore. And soon, he had calmed down. "Whew… that was surely fun…" He muttered.

"Huh?" Kisame said when he noticed that Sakura was just in front the door that led outside. "I never saw you there… How long have you been there anyway?"

Sakura slapped her hand on her forehead. "You blind or what?!" Sakura screamed, "I've been here just 10 minutes ago already!"

"You have?" Kisame asked her. 'I bet I've been laughing too much that I forgot about my surroundings and kept laughing at Itachi.' Kisame thought while he grinned innocently at Sakura, 'But he sure looked dangerous when he left… but how didn't I ever notice Haruno coming in?'

Sakura sighed and said, "Anyway, what were you laughing about earlier?" Then she suddenly remembered Itachi's scowl before he went in his room. But she still stayed there and kept asking Kisame. After an hour and a half, she was finally tired and went to her bedroom as well.

'Hm. I bet that Kisame's joke was even pointless.' Sakura thought bitterly since she hadn't a clue as to what Kisame was laughing about. 'I wonder if he really was laughing at Itachi-kun because earlier…'

Then Sakura saw a rewind of her memory of Kisame and Itachi in her mind. Itachi was scowling really threateningly at Kisame and Kisame seemed like he didn't have a single didn't care in the world.

'Whatever, I guess. I bet I'll really need a lot of sleep for tonight.' Sakura thought, dismissing the thought before that. 'Our fight may last for hours…'

"I wonder what he's going to do… Will he use his Sharingan or other techniques his clan uses…?" Inner Sakura wondered loudly, at the same time, asking her Outer self.

'Whatever. At any rate, we better sleep for tonight's battle…' Sakura said as she laid her head on the soft pillow and doze off quietly.

Yo, the 3rd Chapter is finally out! Please feel free to give a review!

Give a review… or DIE!?

Hehe… that's only a joke. Anyway, this story is made for all ItaSaku fans and Naruto (the show itself) fans only. Of course, it's also dedicated to MY fans… but if you review, doesn't mean your already MY fan… so… oragaishimasu!!! Please… I need to see what you think about my story…

Arigatou! ^.^

P.S.: Anyway, I think I've made Kisame a bit too teasingly friendly.

Next up: The Fight!