Chapter 21

Fear is an emotion that Itachi never truly understood until now. He was shaking and panting. His weasel form made him feel so helpless…so powerless and now of all times when he needed to be human the most he was a weasel. Itachi had figured out how to be human for a little while. All he had to do was think of Sakura, but this wouldn't last forever because the curse simply did not work that way. So even though the only thought now was saving her and loving her, he could not turn into a human. Itachi had to at least wait another hour, but he couldn't wait that long or Sakura might be dead.

So here he was scared out of his wits and running towards her scream. It wasn't long till he stood on his hind legs staring at Madara with Sakura in his arms. Sakura was pushing Madara away from her, but his grip was too tight. Madara spotted Itachi and laughed bitterly, "This is the oh so great Itachi? My…and I thought this might have been a challenge." Itachi snorted and hissed showing his teeth. Madara laughed again this time more cheerfully, "Putting up a tough act in front of your girlfriend?" Sakura elbowed Madara in his gut. He grunted in surprise and let go of her. Sakura ran in front of Itachi in a fighting position.

Madara simply rose an eyebrow, "Listen here woman, I've killed half of the Uchiha clan and escaped from ANBU and yet you still want to fight me?" Sakura growled, "I will not let you hurt Itachi!" Madara smiled with spite, "Will not let me?" Sakura narrowed her eyes and then Madara's own eyes sparkled with malice, "We will see about that little missy." Itachi rubbed against Sakura's leg with his eyes warning her to run, but she ignored him and jumped at Madara.

Madara easily dodged her chakra-enhanced punches. Madara snorted after he dodged another punch, "You little vexation…this will be over before it even started." With that said he pulled out a kuani and smashed it into her stomach. Sakura gasped being unable to dodge his fast move. Blood spilled unmercifully from her wound, "I…I-Itachi…I'm s-so sorry." Sakura fell to the floor on her knees. She was putting her hand to her stomach and applying pressure to stop some of the bleeding while trying to heal it.

Madara laughed, "Looks like I thwarted your plans and now Itachi…well he is not going to be an annoyance anymore." Sakura bit her lip while holding back tears, 'Itachi is going to die because of me.' 'Inner Sakura' rumbled inside of her mind, "Don't give in too this bastard! Show him what we are made of!" Madara was holding Itachi up by the back of his neck and he smirked, "Looks like this is the end."

Madara threw Itachi into the air and pulled out his long sword that he carried well hidden on his back. Itachi's screeched as he saw the sword coming closer. Itachi screwed his crimson eyes shut. It wasn't until a moment later that Itachi realized that he was still alive. Itachi opened his eyes and gave a small whimper. Sakura had taken the blow for him. Right in between her shoulder blades was the sword sticking out of it. Warm, sticky blood ran past her neck onto his head. Sakura whispered softly, "Can't hold this any longer." Itachi quickly moved out of the way as she fell forward.

Madara had taken a couple steps back to watch this unfold. Sakura was lying so her right cheek was on the ground and she could look at Itachi with her usually lively green eyes. Itachi could tell her eyes where growing dimmer by the second and he brushed her up against her cheek giving off small feeble cries. She laughed dolefully and with nearly the last of her strength she pulled Itachi up to her lips and gave him a small peck on his nose.

Then there was a sudden, 'Puff!' And Itachi was human again. Sakura closed her eyes and gave a small giggle before coughing out blood, "You're naked Itachi-kun!" Itachi pulled her into his arms and lowered his head into the crook of her neck; "If I would have ran away from you…you and Sasuke might have had the chance to live." Madara grinned and disappear noticing the chakra signatures that where surrounding the area. Sakura smiled softly, "I-if I never would have met you…then I would have never really lived in the first place."

ANBU surrounded the both of them. Itachi made a strange grow that erupted from the back of his throat that clearly told them to back the hell away. One of the ANBU was Ino and she ran to Sakura's side. Itachi was about of attack her, but Sakura coughed out a, "Piggy-chan." Ino began trying to heal Sakura, "Come on Forehead…do you always have to do everything alone?!" Naruto stood near the other ANBU with tears falling down his face before he snarled venomously at Itachi, "So not only did you kill Sasuke, but you also had to take down Sakura-chan, huh?"

Ino whispered to Sakura softly, "Don't speak right now or it could collapse your lungs. You didn't heal your stomach very well making some of your blood go into your lungs. So I'm going to extract the blood, okay?" Sakura nodded before looking at Naruto. Itachi narrowed his eyes angrily at Naruto, "I did not kill Sasuke or hurt Sakura-chan." Naruto growled, "Like I'll believe a murder like you!" Naruto ran towards Itachi and then Sakura screamed making him stop dead in his tracks. Itachi held Sakura closer to his body as he noticed her breathing become ragged. Ino gave a panicked sob, "Don't die…please don't die."

Itachi looked accusingly at Naruto, "Don't even think of fighting me right now. Or else Sakura might scream again and then you will be the one with her blood on your hands." Ino then began healing Sakura again and soon the wounds where closed. Sakura looked dazed at first before she asked, "What about the Akatsuki?" Then a very familiar laugh filled the air and Sakura looked and saw Deidara. Deidara grinned at her…he was wearing an ANBU uniform, "You sure gave us a scare, un." Itachi and Sakura looked at each other before asking once again, "What happened to the Akatsuki?"

Deidara shook his head, "Most of the Akatsuki got away, but we managed to capture Pein and Hidan. Before this happened Pein had almost beaten me to death so I made a deal with Konoha. If I showed them where the base was then I could join the ANBU, un. It seems like there will be another ex-Akatsuki member becoming ANBU too, huh, un?" Itachi nodded. Naruto snorted, "You've got a lot of explaining to do." Itachi smirked and picked up Sakura bridal style. Ino then turned bright red and squealed.

Deidara rolled his eyes and gave Itachi a pair of sweat pants that he kept spare of in his backpack. Itachi gently put Sakura down before putting them on and then lifted her up again before sighing happily at Sakura, "I guess I'll be known as Sakura's Weasel from now on, huh?"

(Theresnothinghereitsjustyourimagnation)

Please R&R! I hope you all liked it! This is the ending for Sakura's Weasel. Sorry it took so long I was having writer's block…but I came through! After a long time ehehe…

Anyways love ya all!

Clairesa-chan