Forcing himself to focus, Itachi pooled his chakra into his fingers and pressed them against her forehead. Bursting it through her mind, he formed two one handed seals. Then a crescent symbol appeared beneath his fingertips and Sakura let out a small moan of pain before stilling. Removing his hand from her, Itachi sat down in one of the chairs showing the symbol of an oval which had appeared at his palm.

With a sigh, Sasori released his chakra strings on the girl, turning to face Itachi. "Well… that should keep her down for awhi-"

WHAM!

She smiled as her fist connected with a second satisfying punch. Only this time it seemed she had connected with something wood. Did he wear a wooden armor? No… It had buckled and her fist had gone completely through it's two layers. And there seemed to be a space in between. Chakra seared her arm as she bit her lip, trying to ignore the burning sensation.

"Well…" Sasori remarked, staring down at the arm producing through his chest. "This is interesting."

Horrified as she recognized the voice, Sakura tried to jerk free, but her arm was stuck within the cavity, the splinters spiking her whenever she tried to get it out. Itachi watched with amusement, trying to decide whether to free the now swearing kunoichi, or to simply leave her be until she settled down. Having one's arm stuck within a living puppet was certainly an odd situation. And it prevented her from hitting with that right hook.

Resetting his jaw, he paused to glance at the Leader, who seemed to be viewing things with a dark interest. As Pein nodded, he stepped forward. Immediately, she reacted, jumping back… only to be jerked forward. "Do you mind not pulling me to pieces?" Sasori asked irately. "I already have two holes to repair."

"Forgive me, for being surprised but aren't you supposed to be dead anyway?" Sakura replied sarcastically as chakra began to charge in her other fist. Recognizing her intent, Itachi flickered forward to grab her wrist before she could strike.

"Enough, Sakura." He said in a dangerously low voice as he stared at her. He could feel her dangerous intent pulsing along their connection, but it was also tinged with fear. Honestly, he could not blame her for being scared. The last member of the Leaf village they had caught had been executed publicly… and it had not been a swift death.

Staring into his charcoal orbs, Sakura deactivated the chakra. Staying still, she smiled dangerously at him. She too could sense his flat irritation with her, but she couldn't particularly say she cared at the moment. The fact, though, that he had caught her fist, surprised her. Few were that fast. "Let go," she ordered flatly.

The other Akatsuki in the room shifted slightly. No one had ever talked to the Uchiha like that and lived. Nor had they spoken so boldly as to command him to do something or other. Itachi's eyebrow quirked upward in a display of emotion. "Excuse me?"

"Let." She threw a heavy kick for his side. "Go."

Twisting her wrist, he neatly dodged. Landing without releasing her, he held her arm tight against her back. "Do not order me around, kunoichi. You do not have the means to be negotiating. Now do you want out of there or not?" he asked, eyes narrowing.

She knew just by the feel of his chakra that she was going to get her ass kicked if she wasn't polite. But staring at someone that reminded her so much of Sasuke made her blood boil. I know you put a seal on me… that's why I can sense you and you can sense me, she thought, staring at him. Mocking him with an overly polite smile, she answered, "Yes, I do."

You would mock me, Kunoichi? A voice growled in her mind, soft as though he were whispering in her ear. As her eyes widened in shock, Itachi smirked, beginning to free her hand from the already mad puppetmaster's chest. Oh yes… you didn't think I could hear your thoughts did you? I know your every move the second it hits your mind. And this connection isn't two way. So think twice before you consider an attack.

"I'm not afraid of you," she said staring at him through fiery green eyes.

"Maybe you should be," Itachi replied watching her swallow, "I'm not a nice guy, Sakura. Nor am I as weak as my little brother."

Pulling her hand free, Itachi placed a chakra seal on the back of her neck out of reach. Her eyes narrowed as she felt her chakra being drained yet again. As her legs gave out from exhaustion, she glared at him. "You…"

"It will be best if she remains with you Itachi," Pein said from the shadows where he stood. "It will keep her away from Kisame and the others. Therefore, she will be staying in your room."

Nodding, he picked the kunochi up, ignoring her muffled curses as he carried her back to his room. Putting her on the small couch against the wall, he walked over to his closet and shed his cloak to reveal his standard gray yukata. Hanging it in the closet, he sighed before walking over to his bed. Kicking back, he stared at the cealing before closing his eyes. As he felt something a bit hesitant in his thought, his eyes shot open. "What are you doing, Sakura?"

"Nothing…" she replied, turning over to face the wall, so that her front was hidden.

Suspicious, but not picking anything in his senses, Itachi turned to stare up at the cealing. And then the explosion went off, rattling the walls. Immediately, he was on his feet, a kunai drawn and held at the ready as he turned to see Sakura still in place, chuckling. Vaguely he heard her think, That's twice now I've killed the bastard…

"You can't kill Sasori by blowing him up. He learned his lesson last time." Itachi replied with an infuriating smirk as the cursing could be heard. Mentally, he reflected that it was coming in steams now, and that some he was surprised the puppet master knew.

As her chuckles continued, the Uchiha took out pegs and drove them under the door before heading back to his bed and falling into a light sleep.

Watching him, Sakura got to her feet and walked around the room, getting used to things. There was an Uchiha clan symbol, perfectly designed and framed on the wall. The décor was chrisom mixed with black. Carefully she looked at the door. Steel, with the wooden pegs holding it securely in place. Gently she drew them out, not thinking about what she was doing and working on spur of the moment decision.

Stepping out into the hall, she paused as she found herself staring at a bare chest. Looking up, she stared into the maroon eyes before noticing the wicked looking scythe.

Itachi's eyes opened a moment later as he heard a crash. "WHAT THE-" he heard Sakura's voice exclaim. "THE BA----- DOESN'T DIE!"

"What the F- was that for you god d- f- b-! F-in Heathan!"

Well… he thought, it seems she's met Hidan.