Disclaimer: We don't own them, we only torture them for our not-so-innocent enjoyment.

AN: Wow, once again you guys just consistently blow us away with your response to this fic. Special love and appreciation goes out to Trev-or who drew mini Itachi from our last chapter (SO CUTE, OMG), and to Shirsureok whose pen chronicled the start of Sakura's dubious flirtation with Itachi in chapter three. The link to both these wonderful fanarts are on our profile. In other news, we hope to be able to continue our practice of updating every week, but the upcoming months are bumpy for one of us. We will certainly do our best, but there may be a missed week coming up in the immediate future. Again-we're both so glad that you're all still enjoying this fic.

TL;DR: Thank you! You're wonderful! We hope you enjoy!

4 Years Ago
Hokage Tower

Sakura braced herself against the bookshelf in a vain attempt to put one of the half-dozen scrolls she was returning back into place. Shizune had come in earlier to borrow the stepstool. She could attach herself to the wall and walk up but that seemed like overkill. Giving up with a sigh she twisted around to put the scroll back into the box for later when a loud, almost cheerful knock rapped against the doorframe.

"Oi, Sakura-chan!"

Her head snapped up in surprise and she blinked several times. When the smiling visage of Naruto didn't disappear, she managed a return smile. It felt a little funny.

"Naruto! I didn't know you were back!"

"Oh, well, I'm not. Ero-sensei needed to chat with Baa-chan about something so here I am!" Smile widening he curled the rest of his body away from the door showing off the small containers held in both hands. "I brought lunch!"

Sakura hesitated. "I'm supposed to be organizing scrolls and it's only…" She looked at the clock. It was close enough to lunchtime that she could probably get away with it, but her stomach was starting to tie itself into knots and she wasn't sure she could eat. This was the first time, other than Naruto's hurried goodbye, that she had seen either of her ex-teammates up close since that disaster on the bridge after the chunin exams.

"It's time for lunch!" Naruto declared, setting the ramen container on her desk before fishing two pairs of wrapped chopsticks out of his back pocket. "Baa-chan knows I'm here!"

Sakura flung a scroll at him. "Hokage-sama! Not Baa-chan!"

Naruto just grinned at her as he shut the door. "Come on Sakura-chan. I brought your favorite! Miso-ramen just the way you like it!"

She shook her head and moved over to the desk. She knew that smile. She was stuck with him until he decided to leave. Taking a calming breath, she managed another half-smile. "Alright, but we gotta eat fast. I've got work to do!"

'And I'm not sure I can sit in the same room with you without beating your head in.'

"Yeah, we're not going to be here too much longer and I still gotta track down Sasuke-bastard and tell him a thing or two."

She froze at the mention of Sasuke. It had been weeks and she hadn't seen him. Working hard on her expression, she struggled with her internal frustration, letting her bangs hide her face.

Naruto didn't seem to notice. "You know, I didn't expect to find you here."

Sakura looked up. "Oh?"

"Yeah. I wasn't sure where you would be, but Baa-chan said you were training with her." He grinned at her so hard that the corner of his eyes crinkled. "I'm proud of you."

She looked down. "Thanks." She wondered if he knew how he was twisting the knife.

"I always believed in you, Sakura-chan." He said firmly. "I know you're going to be great!"

Sakura felt a bitter taste in her mouth. This was the first time since the Great Naruto Bridge that he had said something and she couldn't believe him. She stared at her ramen cup. "Naruto… why are you here?"

"I haven't seen you in weeks! Why wouldn't I be here? I'd have dragged that bastard in with us too, but I couldn't find him." Naruto's confusion was evident before he banished it and tilted his head in a mischievous fashion, "Besides. This way is better, ne? You and me? It's almost like a date."

"Idiot." Even back in their Academy days, the word had never sounded quite so bitter. Sakura turned so that Naruto couldn't see her eyes. "We're not on a date. We're not even teammates anymore, Naruto, so I don't see why you'd –"

"WHAT?" Naruto stood up so abruptly, his chair fell down behind him. "What do you mean, we're not teammates anymore? Of course we're teammates!"

Her fingers tightened on her cup and she gritted the words out between her teeth with the sudden rush of temper. "We're not a team anymore, Naruto. You and Sasuke left."

Naruto snorted. "I don't care what those old, decrepit Uchiha Elders think! Or what anyone else thinks! You don't stop being a team just 'cause you don't train all the time anymore!"

She shot to her feet and stared furiously down at him. "Well, what if I care?"

"What?" Naruto looked as if she had just hit him on the head with something heavy.

She slammed the ramen cup down, her temper snapping. Leaning forward, she glared at him. "I said, what if I care?"

"Sakura-chan?"

She spun around and walked to the window, crossing her arms forcefully over her chest to try to contain the words that wanted to spew from her lips. Did he just not know? Was he really that oblivious to how she'd felt sitting on that bridge, watching what amounted to her life as a shinobi walk away? Neither of them caring enough to look back? Kakashi-sensei hadn't even bothered to arrange for her to learn with someone else!

Naruto didn't say anything and so she dug her hands into her arms and stared at the people walking along the pathways.

"I like being a mednin." She swallowed hard and forced down the urge to reach out and shake Naruto and ask why. Why he thought they were still a team after leaving her with nothing more than an 'I'm off to study with the super-pervert!' and a promise to get stronger. Why he thought Sasuke would ever break free from the Uchihas long enough to join them again. Why he thought she should give a shit about them after they had walked away from her and left her alone. A freak, once again. The girl whose team abandoned her.

Sakura felt hard, calloused fingers on her shoulders and allowed Naruto to turn her around. He was staring at her with confused, hurt blue eyes, eyes that she remembered seeing narrowed in determination time and time again. She didn't like seeing him hurting. He didn't say anything, but she heard his unasked questions and fumbled to explain.

"I like being useful. I like working here. I get to learn how to saves lives and how to fight." She set her jaw and stepped back, away from his grip. Kakashi-sensei had never taught her how to fight. Sasuke and Naruto had coddled her. Looking back, she realized she deserved every bit of it. What had she done besides throw herself at her teammate and worry about her hair and clothes? She felt like just as she was starting to figure things out, starting to learn, it had ended and she hated it.

"But… you won't have a team." Naruto sounded confused. "You'll be by yourself."

Her fingers dug even tighter into her arms. "That's not such a bad thing."

"That's crap!" Naruto shouted suddenly. Sakura's jaw dropped. She'd heard Naruto yell before, of course, but never at her. "You're just going to give up? Just like that?"

Sakura dropped her arms and balled her hands into fists, leaning forward and yelled right back. "I'm not the one who walked away! I'm not the one who decided Team 7 wasn't good enough! I even don't get to give up – there's nothing left to give up on!"

Naruto blanched and then his eyebrows drew in and his gaze hardened. He clenched his fists tightly and stared at her in determination. "I'm not giving up."

Sakura shook her head and hunched her shoulders, withdrawing from him. "You can't fight to keep something that doesn't want you."

"That's bullshit." Naruto snapped. His knuckles were turning white. "You always keep going. You never give up."

Sakura turned away. His determination and passion were wearing at the defenses she'd painfully constructed. If she didn't look away, she'd be tempted to hope again. "Why do you care, anyway? You're getting the training you need to become Hokage and Sasuke is getting what makes his clan happy."

"And what about you?"

"I'm going to be a mednin." She set her jaw and refused to tremble. "I'm going to save lives."

"Who's going to protect you?"

"I need don't need protection." Sakura snapped, spinning. "Not anymore."

Naruto glared at her. "I don't believe you, Sakura-chan."

"Stop calling me that and it doesn't matter." She swallowed and set her stance so he would know she meant it. "Team 7 is over."

"Team 7 isn't over until we say it is!" Naruto shouted back.

"Well, I say it's over!"

Naruto was shaking. "So it doesn't matter? None of it matters? The entire year doesn't matter? Everything we did to survive the exam and… and… you're just going to let it go?"

"You threw it away first!" Now she was really fighting back tears and she almost hated him for it. She had promised never to cry about the things she couldn't change again. "You and Sasuke left!"

Naruto looked like she had slapped him.

"Both of you! You left me alone!" She curled her fingers tightly together, mimicking his earlier pose. "So now I'm going do this alone, Naruto."

"No." He squared his shoulders. "I didn't leave. I… I… went on vacation."

She stopped, startled by the idiocy of his statement.

"Vacation! And now I'm back, but I gotta go away again 'cause I gave my word but I'm not gone!" He stared at her, hard and stubborn. "You don't stop being a team just because you don't train together all the time anymore! And we're not just a team!"

"Then what are we?" She questioned flatly.

"Family."

She almost opened her mouth and said something but stopped. There was a look in his eyes that she had seen only a handful of times and always, always when he was his most stubborn.

"We're family." He continued, stubborn. "Sasuke and you… and Kakashi-sensei… I'm not giving up. Ever. That's my promise."

She blinked hard and swallowed, but before she could talk he rushed on.

"You don't give up on family."

She closed her eyes. "Sometimes it isn't that easy."

"Yes it is!" He growled. "Sasuke needs us. That stupid clan of his will never let him be happy. They took us away! How can that help with anything… and you! You need us too! I know you do. It's not good to be alone, Sakura-chan. Why would you ever, ever choose to be alone?"

Sakura swallowed. "I didn't choose to be alone. Sasuke left. You left."

"Bull. SHIT!" Naruto reached out and grabbed her by the shoulders again, shaking her. "I'm right here, Sakura-chan! We're still a team because I say we're still a team. If you say we're not, then you're the one who's leaving!"

Sakura looked at him, and for a moment let his earnest sincerity soothe her wounded soul. This was Naruto. Naruto. He was an idiot, yes, but he would never, never intentionally hurt a friend. The fact that his getting stronger left her behind made it sting even worse.

"I'm going to be a mednin, Naruto." She said it stubbornly. "I'm tired of watching your and Sasuke's backs walk away. I'm going to be strong enough where it won't ever happen again."

"So get stronger! That's what you're doing now, isn't it? That's what we're all doing now! You're getting stronger and I'm getting stronger and that bastard's with Kakashi-sensei so he's probably getting stronger too. And then when we join up again—"

Sakura let out a choked laugh. "What makes you think that we will ever join up again? Sasuke abandoned us at the first sign of trouble. He just walked away. He let them call us worthless after everything and he believed it!"

Naruto shook her again. "I don't. And neither do you. We've always known the bastard's clan was full of shit." He gave her a sharp feral grin. "Now we get to prove it. And we'll get beat it into his head too. I'm not giving up, Sakura-chan."

"Sometimes that's not enough." She tried to shift away from him, but he held her fast.

"Then we find a way to make it enough." Naruto said firmly. "You've gotta believe in us, Sakura-chan."

She stared at the boy who never gave up, never… who fought demons for her and who ate too much ramen and didn't bathe enough. The boy who was too big and too bright sometimes but was so silly and stupid she wanted to beat him. She wished sometimes that he was the other boy but… but he had left because she was weak.

She found herself wanting to believe in Naruto. Found herself wanting to find a way back. She couldn't do it on her own. In some ways, Sasuke was right. She was weak. Solution: Get stronger.

To do that… she needed help. She needed a teammate and she wanted… she wanted teammates. She always had. Those rare, wonderful moments where she felt invincible and safe in her own skin. Laughing as they stood on top of the water or the numbing, exhilarant knowledge that they were still alive. Together. She wanted to protect them.

"You really think we can do this?"

Naruto blinked and the smile that grew on his face started behind his eyes. "Yes."

"Sasuke… Sasuke is going to be difficult."

"You learn how to put him back together, Sakura-chan, because when I get back if he says no, he's gonna need the help." His smile was blinding but there was seriousness to his eyes that burned.

"How long will you be gone?"

He frowned, thinking. "Two years, maybe three. I gotta learn some stuff out there that I can't in here. How long you need to finish your own training?"

"About that much… what if Sasuke takes the exams without us?"

Naruto's smile grew wide. "You leave that to me."

"What? How? Why?"

"Just trust me!"

She stared at him, unsure before finally nodding. "Okay."

"What? Really?"

"Really."

"This is gonna be great, Sakura-chan! Just you wait! We're going to be Team 7 again! Believe it!"

She did. Somehow, crazily, she did.

X

Present Day
Konoha Village

Sakura wasn't entirely sure what she had done to deserve this and she was torn between horror, amusement and a helpless sort of fascination. Ever since her first dinner with Itachi – and their subsequent conversation – there had been a faint, niggling curiosity of her own that had quietly been building in the back of her mind. She hadn't put a lot of conscious thought into it, but the relationship that Itachi had hinted at with his mother had seemed so different from the bits and pieces she had caught through Sasuke's eyes over the years.

And now she found herself eating dinner with Mikoto and her son. She was used to being around dominate, forceful female personalities thanks to her time spent with Tsunade. But her mentor was like dealing with a force of nature. Mikoto was all quiet observance and calm, glittering intelligence.

And she kept catching glimpses of Itachi in Mikoto's expressions. The conversation had been light, surprisingly pleasant and the only way to catch the undercurrent was to watch for those slight smiles and side glances that were conveying words she could see but couldn't quite catch. It wasn't making her uncomfortable per se… but the feeling left her wary, like a trap she hadn't quite realized was there and had already walked into blindfolded.

Itachi didn't speak very much, of course, but there was a certain almost indefinable softening of his features. Seeing him like this sent a strange and entirely unexpected warmth down her spine. All the same, she was much more interested in observing their dynamic than in doing anything that would unwittingly set off the trap. Fortunately, the tempura was very, very good. No one could blame her for not talking if her mouth was full, now could they?

Mikoto-san had been filling in the silence with pleasant small talk, with everything from village gossip to speculation on the new blacksmith with the special kunai design. So even though Sakura had been prepared for the conversation to take this turn, she still almost choked on her tea when Mikoto-san shifted the topic of the conversation.

"I had no idea you and Itachi were so close, Sakura-chan," she said with a smile. "This makes it all the more deplorable that it's been so long since I've seen you. Of course, I've always been very grateful for your friendship with Sasuke, but my Itachi tends to be even more of a recluse."

Before Sakura had a chance to figure out how on kami's green earth she was going to respond to that, Itachi cut in with that suspiciously mellow tone.

"I'm not reclusive, Mother." He shifted amused eyes to Sakura and let them warm considerably. "Merely selective." One of his hands had been resting innocently under the table and it shifted to lightly squeeze her knee.

Sakura took a deep breath and began counting down from 1001—make that her pet list of 1001 ways of killing someone in excruciating pain without evidence. 1001: Slow blockage of the arteries. 1000: Danka root. 999: Ruptured kidney.

"I see," Mikoto-san's voice had a certain ringing melody to it. In the part of her mind that was not on number 994, Sakura fancied she heard her doom in that voice. "So did the two of you meet through Sasuke?"

Itachi stiffened in a minute movement that she would have likely missed completely if his hand hadn't still been on her knee. Mikoto-san didn't miss it either. The corners of her eyes tilted up.

Interesting. Was there something about her friendship with Sasuke which bothered Itachi? Sakura's eyes narrowed. She'd have none of that. Shifting in her seat, she crossed her legs so that Itachi's hand had to drop to the empty chair or else risk his mother seeing the angle of his arm. "Funnily enough, Mikoto-san, we didn't." Her voice was possibly a tad syrupy, but she wasn't exactly trying to make Itachi miss what she was doing. She wanted to see his reaction. "Uchiha-san and I were assigned to the same mission a few months ago. He's been kind enough to continue the acquaintance."

The line of Itachi's shoulders tightened and out of the corner of her eye, Mikoto's eyes widened just a fraction. The faint twitch of her lips spoke of amusement, but it was the growing gleam in Itachi's expression that left her feeling slightly giddy. Picking up another piece of tempura, she took a bite and clamped down on her amusement.

Swallowing, she smiled brightly. "After all, I've very close to Sasuke. Team 7 is... well, we've made it a point to stick together. Naruto made sure of that."

Mikoto nodded. "I know Sasuke has come to appreciate that closeness."

There were a number of responses that leapt to Sakura's tongue. Most of them involved the clan and none of them were polite. Before she could find something diplomatic and nice to say, Itachi subtly shifted, drawing the attention to him.

"Your tenacity is certainly… appreciated."

It wasn't so much the words, or even the warmth in his eyes, as it was the way the edge of his sandal slid lightly along the length of her calf as he spoke. That and the way she could positively feel Mikoto narrowing in on his words.

876: Extraction of the blood through a small laceration; 875: collapsing the femoral artery, 874: freezing the intestines…

"All the same, it's a bit unusual for a genin team to remain together so long. You've all achieved the rank of special jounin, have you not?"

Sakura tensed. She liked Mikoto-san, as much as she liked any member of Sasuke's family, and she made unbelievable rice balls. It was obvious Itachi adored her, but if anyone went after what they had fought and bled for, she would come after them with all that she had. They'd fought too hard to regain what they had lost, they'd become something more than themselves, and no one was going to take her boys away from her.

She bared her teeth in the approximation of a smile and spoke lightly, "That's right. The council is refusing to let Naruto take the jounin test until he's demonstrated a certain amount of emotional stability. We are all going to advance together, just like with the chunin exams. Tsunade-shishou," the reminder of just whose apprentice she was couldn't hurt, "arranged a special test for us so she could send us out on more A and S rank missions."

"Ah yes," Mikoto murmured. "I remember that test; so much trouble to stay together. Sasuke had to fight Kakashi. So interesting that a man outside of our bloodline could master the sharingan to such a degree… but I digress. I find it interesting, Sakura-san, that the Hokage has such favor for your genin unit."

Itachi's attention was sharp against her senses but she paid it no mind. Keeping a firm hold on her temper – insulting the Uchiha Matriarch would not do… yet – she let her posture relax. "How so?"

Mikoto smiled. "You do not find her actions interesting?"

Reaching for her water glass, Sakura let her smile sharpen. "I find nothing unusual or interesting about specializing the training of the future Hokage."

Mikoto's smile never changed. "Not everyone would agree with your statement."

Sakura took a small sip of her water and set it down. "Which is why he has us." Sasuke and her. It took work to keep herself from baring her teeth and snarling. Itachi's eyes hadn't left her face during the entire exchange but she didn't care. If the Uchiha clan was completely against the idea of Naruto has Hokage, she had just set herself up as a barrier and she didn't care.

"Your loyalty serves you well." Mikoto said, smile warming suddenly. "It eases a mother's heart to know that her son…" her eyes sparkled for a moment, "that both her sons have a place in your affections."

Sakura was thankful that she didn't have anything her mouth but it took work to keep her expression clear. Itachi's foot curled around her ankle.

"Yes," Itachi agreed in those chocolate tones.

752: Bone shards in lungs. 751: Aneurism. 750: Disruption of heart chakra.

This conversation was not going where she wanted it. In fact, she was fairly sure she had lost control of it somewhere.

"Oh yes," Sakura agreed, her tone heavy. "They certainly have a … special place."

She could feel Itachi's smug amusement and she wanted to kick him. Instead, she pulled out her most formal smile. She could feel Itachi tense the moment it appeared.

"Thank you for dinner, Mikoto-san, Uchiha-san…" She deliberately flicked her eyes to the watch on her wrist. "But I'm afraid I must excuse myself. Ino will be expecting me soon."

She went to reach for her wallet but Itachi's fingers curled around her wrist.

"Of course!" Mikoto said. "Itachi will be happy to escort you anywhere you need to go."

Sakura tried not to balk, she really did, but she wanted away from the Uchihas! "That really isn't necessary, Mikoto-san."

Mikoto waved her hand before shooing them away with a friendly smile. "It isn't a matter of necessity, Sakura-san, but manners. You must join us again sometime! This evening has been delightful!"

Sakura felt her protests dying as Itachi maneuvered her form away from the table. Without letting her put any money down for her part of the meal. She wasn't sure how she found her arm tucked into his or how she felt about the looks they were attracting, but she did know how she felt about paying.

"Uchiha—"

"You're our guest, Sakura." Itachi murmured, bending to let his lips brush her ear. "It would be… impolite to allow you to pay."

She grit her teeth to keep herself from asking if it would be impolite if she punched him into Suna. She really didn't feel like putting on that much of a show for his mother. Instead, she smiled up at Itachi and bat her eyes slowly, "You are a paragon of courtesy, Uchiha-san."

She ignored the tightening of his fingers on her arm and allowed him to follow his mother out of the restaurant. Once they stood on the stoop, she turned up to him with a smile again. "I'd like to express my gratitude to your mother in the proper way, Uchiha-san. If you please…" breaking off, she stared pointedly at his grip.

She could feel Mikoto-san's amused gaze, and was aware that this, more than anything she had said, was what convinced Itachi to let go of her arm. He let her go slowly, making her feel more that she was stepping out of liquid than that she was moving out of someone's grip. She took two steps away from Itachi, aware of the burning heat of his gaze as she lowered herself in a formal bow to Mikoto-san.

"Thank you very much for dinner, Mikoto—"

"SAKURA-CHAAAAAAAAN!"

Her eyes widened and she barely had time to brace herself before Naruto swept in, a flurry of gold and orange and black – and swung her up into his arms and around so she had to clutch at his arms.

"Naruto! I just ate!"

His arms tightened around her frame before he set her down, beaming down at her. Slinging an arm around her shoulders he dragged her to his side and pinned her before turning his smile to the Uchihas in front of him.

"Mikoto-san! Sasuke's brother! Bastard was looking for you!"

Sakura hit him in the side. "Naruto!"

Deliberately misunderstanding her words, he pouted down at her and pulled her closer. "But I haven't seen you in hours, Sakura-chan!"

Huffing, she crossed her arms and lifted a brow. He pulled another face and she continued to stare at him, foot tapping.

"Better let her go, dobe. Ka-chan… Aniki…"

Naruto gave a sigh and released her. Sakura peaked over at Itachi through her lashes. His face was set in stone and unreadable but there was a familiar expression in his eyes that made her swallow. Hard.

It was much safer to direct her attention to Sasuke… who was almost brooding. Both of his hands were shoved into his pockets and he was starring at Itachi with an expression she didn't recognize. At least not as it pertained to being directed at his big brother… That sharpness in his eyes and warning – Sasuke usually saved that for enemy shinobi just before they got a chidori shoved up their ass. What…

"So! Sakura-chan! I thought you were hanging out with Ino tonight?"

"Sakura-san was kind enough to join Itachi and me for dinner." Mikoto said smoothly, looking rather amused.

Sakura wasn't sure what was going on here. Something had changed enough between her boys and Itachi so that even Sasuke was challenging him. Challenging him for what exactly, she didn't know. She'd have to find out what it was later, but right now she wasn't above taking advantage of it.

"Yes," she spoke a bit too quickly, but getting these words in before the night had a chance to turn to yet another unexpected direction was more of a priority than seeming casual. "And Uchiha-san was just about to escort me to Ino's. A matter of manners, of course. But now that you're here, Sasuke, I assume you can fill in for your older brother?"

"After all," she turned in Naruto's arms to face the increasingly still Itachi, "you wouldn't want your mother to have to walk home alone. Not when you're available to escort her."

"Good idea, Sakura-chan!" Naruto spoke with a wide grin. "We were just going that way anyway, weren't we, Sasuke?"

"Hn," Sasuke grunted. He walked slowly between his mother and Itachi to come and stand at Sakura's other side. "We could do that."

Mikoto continued to look amused. Itachi… Itachi was watching them with eyes that made her stomach flutter. She went to shift her weight in a silent signal to her boys when Itachi's eyes flickered to hers and she froze. The heat there made her pause. Slowly he studied her face before lowering it silently down her body before just as slowly raising it again. The edge of his mouth curled when her breathing sped up.

And then Sasuke had shifted in front of her and was turning her with his hands. She pretended that he wasn't solely responsible for holding her up as her knees tried to wobble.

"We'll make sure she makes it Ino's."

"Make sure you do, Sasuke!" Mikoto said firmly. "If this Ino is not there, escort her home."

"Don't worry, Mikoto-san! We're too terrified you'd take away your rice balls to fail in this mission!" Naruto's tone was cheerful but there was something underneath it that was… not.

Itachi didn't say anything. But she hadn't expected him to. That look had said enough, really. Swallowing, waited until they were a safe distance away before she reached up and grabbed Sasuke's wrists. "You are not frog marching me the entire way there!"

"Man, it's a good thing we showed up when we did! That crazy Uchiha looking at you the way Chouji looks at a bag of chips!"

Sakura spun around on her heel and thwacked Naruto in the back of the head. "Naruto!"

"What?"

She curled her fists and glared at him. He rubbed the back of his head. "Is that any way to treat your hero?"

"Naruto!" Sasuke growled. "Shut. Up."

They walked quietly for several hundred yards before Sasuke loosened his hold on her.

"You know, that bastard is going to be a little more stubborn about this than I thought." Naruto mused.

Sakura dug her heels in. "What?"

"Hmmm?"

Sakura reached over and fisted her hand in both her boys' shirts, dragging them both in front of her. "What. Did. You. Do?"

Naruto looked at her innocently and Sasuke just stared at her.

Sakura took a deep breath and released her hold on their shirts. This was Naruto. And Sasuke. She trusted them. "Is this something I need to know about?"

They both shook their heads.

"Because, if I remember correctly, a few weeks back, when I said I had a problem one of you said "No big deal." You said, "Just say no, Sakura-chan." You said, "If you date him, it's no big deal, Sakura-chan!" If either of you has done anything to make this more complicated than it already is…" she let her threat hang. They both blanched a little. There had been enough campfires and games of 'who-knows-the-most-ways-to-kill-someone' to appreciate her creativity without having to express herself.

"No, no," Naruto said quickly. "Everything is good here, don't you think so, bastard? We've got everything under control!"

"Fine."

Sakura eyed them and then nodded. "Okay. When we run into Ino, I'm blaming you two for being late!"

"Hey! How is that fair?"

X

Sakura sank into the couch at Ino's apartment with a well-earned sigh. Could this evening get any more complicated? Reaching up to rub her forehead she bit down on a groan. Maybe coming to Ino's hadn't been such a good idea… her friend would want explanations. But dammit! She needed to talk to someone! And since Naruto and Sasuke had obviously come down with a terminal case of Male Idiocy, Ino was probably her best bet.

"Hey, forehead-girl, are you going to help carry this stuff in there or are you just going to stare at the wall?"

That… he… damn him, with just one dinner and a look he had managed to up the ante. Like her brain needed anything else to process! Pressing her face into her hands, she tried to put her scrambled brains into some semblance of an order.

"Sakura!"

Instead, she found her brain going in circles. Just thinking about the way his eyes had burned clean through her as they left made her breath hitch in her throat. Every time she finally thought she was figuring out her own emotions he went and did something like that.

And she wasn't ashamed to admit she had wanted to go over there and… This was not helping her thought process at all. What she wanted was to figure this out in her head. She needed to figure this out in her head.

Ino set the tray down on the table with a bang and shoved her fists onto her hips. Her blue eyes were narrowed and her mouth was pursed in a classic sign of Ino temper.

"Are you ignoring me?"

Sakura blinked several times. "No… no, not on purpose. Sorry. I've just got a lot of stuff on my mind."

Ino's brow wrinkled and her posture relaxed. "Finally. Ever since you got here – two hours late – by the way, you've been a space case. And why did Naruto and Sasuke drop you off?"

She sighed. "It's a long story."

Ino rolled her eyes. "Oh no, don't you dare think that you're going to avoid telling me why you're almost two hours late! You owe me, Sakura, for being a wonderful friend and waiting for you and putting up with your glassy eyes and zombie state. The least you can do is tell me what happened."

Well, she had tried. "Fine."

Picking up a handful of sweets, Ino flopped onto the couch. "Now, what's up? Is this something we need to go track down the over protective behemoths on your team to help us with? Shikamaru and Chouji would try to help, but they would muddle everything up."

Sakura winced. "No. They're already involved."

"Ah, boy trouble then." Ino gave her a considering look. "Does this have something to do with Itachi?"

Sakura looked away and nodded.

"Sakura!" Ino nudged her foot. "I thought you had decided to work him out of your system. Let him have his wicked way with you. How can you not have jumped him by now? I've seen that man in his uniform Sakura. Any man who looks that good covered in blood deserves to get laid."

Sakura blinked at her. "You have? How did you know it was him?"

Ino gave her an amused look. "I have my sources and ways."

Sakura lifted a brow. "What did you blackmail Genma with?"

Ino waved a hand. "Details." She narrowed her eyes. "What I don't understand is why he hasn't jumped you."

"What?"

"Uchihas are not exactly used to not getting what they want, Sakura. Most especially clan heirs. I mean, look at Sasuke. Has he ever once backed down from something he considered important in all the years you've known him? I realize Itachi isn't sane and is rumored to love mind games, but even he is still a man!"

"Those are missions and team things!" Sakura argued.

"Pssh. How a man responds to missions is an excellent way for you to see how he responds to sex."

"What?"

Ino lifted a brow. "You poor little innocent."

"Ino, I am not –"

"I bet a month of mission pay that Uchiha Itachi gets off on a little violence."

Sakura snapped her jaw shut. She was not answering that.

Ino nodded, satisfied. "Has he seen you covered in blood and panting over the shattered chest cavity of one of your enemies yet?"

Sakura felt her face turn red. "Ino! You make that sound so… so… dirty!"

Ino gave her a searching look. "And he still hasn't jumped you? Is he dysfunctional? Because that would seriously explain a few things…"

"Ino!"

Ino sighed, picking up a handful of sweets before eying her. "Sakura… Honey, you know he is in this for sex, right? I mean… Uchiha heir. Clan." She waved her hand. "They don't do long term relationship outside of clans. They just don't. I don't want you to get your heart broken."

Sakura frowned a little. While that was true, there were exceptions. Neji and Tenten had been in a solid relationship for years now and she was sure there were others. But then, Neji was branch house… and Ino was mostly right in her assumption that clan heirs married in the clan. Suddenly uncomfortable with how much that dismayed her, she tried to smile at Ino.

"I know but…"

"But what?"

"It just seems a little complicated for sex, Ino."

The blond tapped her fingers on the couch. "You do realize this is Uchiha Itachi and he can make bathing complicated, right? Right… Good. Now explain what you mean."

Sakura sighed and picked up a larger handful of the sweets before slowly explaining to Ino what had been going on. Edited. Heavily edited. The growing expression of disbelief on her friends face was more than enough as it was when she mentioned the sparring and the night's impromptu dinner. (That one she would have liked to have kept to herself but Ino would hear about it soon enough—Itachi hadn't exactly been discrete—and then… trouble.) His reaction to her exhaustion and the picnic in the Nara forest she kept to herself.

Ino was silent for long moments before speaking. "I should have picked up something stronger than tea."

"That's not very reassuring."

"Sakura, honey… I don't know what's going on between you." Her expression was miffed. "If Itachi was a normal, regular shinobi I would definitely say you were in a relationship. But he isn't… and we certainly can't expect him to follow normal rules."

Sakura sighed. "Thanks, Ino-pig."

Ino flicked a jelly at her. "Still, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy having him around."

"Does everything have to revolve around sex with you?"

"Sakura! A very hot, sexy, elite shinobi wants to get up close and personal with your inner vixen. Go for it!"

"It's… complicated. I can't just have sex with the man and be done with it. There's… too much stuff now. It's not like we're just trying to work off some mutual frustration or on some post-mission high."

"I just heard all the details, Sakura. I fail to see the complication about rolling around a training field with Uchiha Itachi! The only thing complicated is your head."

"That's because he isn't stalking you!" Sakura growled.

Ino sighed sadly. "I know. Who knew he went for pink and large foreheads?"

"Ino!"

Ino pinned her with a look, her expression suddenly serious. "Have fun with him Sakura. You deserve to have a little fun. Enjoy the chase. Let yourself feel for a little bit. Just… watch your heart, okay? You can't keep him coming around forever, wouldn't you at least like to get some fun out of it? Men like Itachi don't stick around for women like us."

Sakura slowly organized the jellies in her hand by color. Was Ino right? Was this some sort of crazy fling… if so, why? She knew he liked the game, the hunt, but this was taking it so much further than that. He had invited her to eat dinner with his mother! Or rather, his mother had invited her. He was making public moves now.

She wasn't sure Ino was right about this… she wasn't sure she was right about this… but one thing was clear. The clan. They did have plans for Itachi. The subtle prodding this evening from Mikoto-san had reminded her of that. She was certain part of that had been concerned mother and part of that had been Uchiha Matriarch. She knew some of them were unhappy Sasuke was holding himself back for his team and now it looked like she was sinking her hooks into Itachi. She could feel the headache building.

Yet… Sasuke had already told her that Itachi did as he pleased, regardless of clan wishes.

She was just going to have to deal with this on her own terms and Itachi wouldn't lie to her… he might angle his words to a truth she hadn't considered, but he wouldn't lie.

"Hey, Sakura?" Ino's words cut through her thought process. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." She smiled. "Thanks Ino."

Blue eyes studied her for a long moment before she grinned. "Good. So how does he kiss?"

Sakura swallowed wrong and Ino helpfully reached over to pat her on the back.

"Dying isn't going to get you out of giving me details, forehead-girl. Now, tell Ino. I want to know everything. Have you even seen him without his shirt yet?"

This was going to be a disaster.

X

Sakura flung herself across rooftops. Her senses were on full alert and the air was humming. The alarms in Hokage tower had sounded, blaring loudly and filled with enough charka undertones to rattle her teeth even as far away from the tower as Ino's apartment.

Sakura had only heard the alarms once before but the memory was strong enough to push her towards the tower as quickly as possible. Lights all across Konoha were flaring on and shinobi were boiling out of their homes towards their designated locations. Protocol. Genin were being ushered towards the academy barracks and a handful of Chunin were on their way for added protection.

Sakura was on standing orders to shadow Tsunade in the event of an attack and to act as her sensei's legs. Tsunade would be under heavy ANBU guard until the source of the alarms was neutralized but both she and Shizune would keep close.

It was going to be a long night. Checking the pouch of kunai that Ino had tossed her before they had left to go their separate ways, Sakura opted to go the traditional way up through the steps instead of the window. No need to take chances when she could feel the furious intent of the charka around her.

Especially since it didn't take a dozen guesses to understand what had happened. The village wasn't burning, and there was no sign of enemies gathered around Konoha's walls, but those alarms wouldn't be blaring if there hadn't been an infiltration. There were only a few organizations in the world that would dare such a blatant attack on Konoha and there was only one of those who they had recriminating evidence on. Swearing furiously under her breath she flicked her fingers through the familiar symbols to be admitted into the Hokage's office and stepped in.

There were two ANBU on either side of Tsunade's desk and another in front of the window. Their masks were fully in place and she knew at a glance that none of them were Itachi. Taking a deep breath – she would worry about how she knew that later – she took her place on Tsunade's left just as the faint sounds of a commotion caught her attention.

The council had arrived and barged into the Hokage office in record time. Curious, but not as curious as the fact that they were not alone. Danzo had decided to hitch a ride on the council's coattails. She wondered if she would have to hold Tsunade back. And then she wondered if she'd bother, or if she'd 'slip.'

It would save them all a lot of future aggravation if Danzo met the wrong end of an enraged Hokage's fist.

Or would that be the right end? She was rambling inside her head, trying to drown out Homura Mitokado's dry voice. These council members were old as dirt and full of their self-importance and Sakura really couldn't wait for the day they were replaced.

"…status report on the attacks. We are quite concerned that the Akatsuki were able to breach our village security."

"And you couldn't wait until after the breach had been handled to express your concern?" Tsunade asked wryly. "And you brought along company as well. Fortunately, I am confident than our ANBU and jounin have the situation well in hand, so I can hear what you have to say now, Danzo."

The elderly councilmen cracked open his good eye and studied Tsunade for long moments. "I am worried, Hokage-sama."

Sakura slid her tongue between her teeth and bit down in an attempt to hold her temper at the faint edge to Danzo's tone, the blatant grandstanding and broad implications to his words. There was no love between her sensei and the war hawk and there was even less concern between him and some of the stronger clans. His dissatisfaction with the clans and the lack of perceived military might was well known even outside of the council.

"You have many concerns," Tsunade pointed out, eyes hard. "What could possibly be important enough that you feel that now is the best time to discuss them?"

The edges of Danzo's lips pulled in what might have been a smile on someone else's face. "I am a simple servant of the village, Hokage-sama. All concerns are of importance to me."

Sakura had to physically restrain herself from rolling her eyes.

"Be as that may, I have limited time for your antics tonight." Tsunade returned. "Either express what specifically is bothering you or remove yourself from my office."

Danzo gave a careful bob that might have been a bow. "Of course. I apologize for taking up any more of your time than is necessary, Hokage-sama. My concerns tonight are not of anything new. The attack tonight has clearly demonstrated a lack of care and guard by certain factions of our village."

Sakura stilled at the implications in his words.

"How so?"

Danzo made a delicate move with his hand. "As I have stated in the past. We rely too heavily on certain clans for our defense and tonight has only managed to showcase such weaknesses. It is obvious that something must be done and that we must start at the basic level of our defense."

Sakura stared at him. Surely he wasn't stupid enough to take on the police force, and in the process, the Uchiha Clan? Keeping her eyes firmly ahead, Sakura didn't dare look at her sensei. Of course, since the police were run by the clan it was a powerful force that Danzo had as of yet been unable to infiltrate, and Sakura could understand the old man's frustration. Such a blatant political move after an attack was daring. If he managed to affix the blame firmly onto the police force, he would be given a foothold; if not... The Uchiha clan was a political force and a dangerous one. Antagonizing them unnecessarily was not wise.

"I see." Tsunade leaned back and studied the elder. "What exactly are you suggesting?"

Danzo gave another one of those bobs. "It is a simple proposition, Hokage-sama. Our police force requires new blood."

"Is that so, Danzo?"

Sakura was thankful that her body was so carefully trained not to flinch. How long had he been standing there? Sliding her eyes over, Sakura swallowed at the lack of expression on his face. His body was relaxed, hands loose at his sides, but there was a gleam in his eyes that sent ice down her spine.

The atmosphere in the room went from tense to downright inflammatory. Sakura glanced from Itachi to Tsunade, hoping to take a clue from her shishou. Tsunade had crossed her arms under her breasts and leaned back in her chair, a faint, anticipatory smile on her face.

Fantastic. Kami, since when did she have to be the mature one? Where was Shizune when she needed her?

But Itachi was moving towards Danzo like liquid metal, and there was a wild, untamed force that increased with each step he took. He wasn't unleashing his chakra; it was just the weight of his presence that preceded him. Sakura gulped.

Itachi stopped at the precise corner of Tsunade's desk directly opposite to Danzo. "And I suppose you have a good idea about where she would find those replacements, hn? Handpicked, even?"

Danzo made another motion with his hand. "I would be honored to serve my village in any endeavor, by any means necessary. If my experience in the field could lend assistance to such a task, who am I to question the wisdom of such a move?"

One side of Itachi's mouth kicked up and there was something predatory in the way he was watching Danzo. "'By any means necessary,'" Itachi repeated softly. "What experience exactly do you speak of?"

"My past speaks for itself, Uchiha-san." He spread his good hand wide. "I meant no insult to your clan. I am merely a concerned citizen who wishes for my village to live up to its potential. Such events as tonight are causes for concern and I offer my assistance freely to any who wish for it."

"To any who wish for it, hmm?" Itachi deliberately cut his eyes towards Danzo's assistant. Ichimaru Michi was a quiet, unassuming man who stood at the proper distance and angle from his superior, alert and attentive with an unassuming manor. Meeting Danzo's gaze once again, Itachi spoke with quiet deliberation, "I am sure that there is no one here who would question your loyalty, Danzo. Just as no one here would question the value of your experience. Some might, however, wonder at the wisdom of your current course of action."

Danzo did not register any form of response to Itachi's words, he simply pasted on a mild smile, and "I am only trying to do what I can to help Konoha in her time of need."

Itachi smiled a shark's smile, "I'm sure your… generosity is noted. Since this matter deals with the Uchiha clan's purveyance, I will make you an offer, Danzo. When one of your handpicked recruits can defeat me in a trial witnessed by the council, the Uchiha clan will consider your generous offer. In the meantime, I have a report to make to the Hokage. A citizen, however concerned, is not privy to these matters. Unless you would like me to come back later, Tsunade-san."

Itachi shifted and faced Tsunade, dismissing Danzo completely from his sight. Sakura saw the old man's remaining hand tighten into a fist.

"Entertaining as this exchange is," Tsunade spoke just as Danzo opened his mouth, "We do have other things to deal with. Right now hearing your report is my priority."

Koharu Utatane crossed her arms, "We would like to stay."

"That's nice," Tsunade said. "Do you need a guard to escort you safely home? The village has just been attacked, after all."

Danzo gave a slight bob. "Hokage-sama…" There was an edge to the man's voice. A note that rang hard against his previously polite tones. There was a threat there. Sakura watched the ANBU at the door shift, their masks gleaming in the light.

Itachi turned. His eyes glittered. "If you are concerned about your safety, Danzo, with Hokage-sama's permission I would be pleased to escort such an esteemed citizen."

Danzo stiffed.

"Or," Itachi continued, his voice wrapped in smooth velvet. "I would be willing to send for an escort of our finest police officers."

"You're not even part of the force," Danzo grated out.

Tsunade made a noise in the back of her throat. "I know I don't have to remind you all that we were just attacked and that Uchiha Itachi is not the only shinobi who must make reports. I will have some ANBU escort you all safely home. Immediately."

Sakura kept her eyes on the councilmen and Danzo until they had been escorted safely from the room before returning her gaze to Itachi. The rest of the ANBU squad slipped out of the room but Sakura could feel the echoes of their chakra. Close. Itachi was watching Tsunade with an almost exasperated expression.

"You should allow me to kill him."

Tsunade gave a wry smile. "Tempting, but no. He has his useful moments. What do you have for me?"

The pleased gleam in his eyes was almost sharingan bright. "The trap is set."

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