Silent Sacrifice Chapter 4: Aurora

Three weeks passed.

In Sakura's eyes, they went by quickly, the days coming fleetingly and then going without a pause. They - meaning herself, Itachi and Kisame - continued to stay in the nice motel as before, Sakura having a room of her own and the other two sharing one (she'd woken up one morning to find a drawer full of dull kimonos just her size).

Not much happened at first - after her spar with Itachi, he'd told her she needed to work on honing her basic abilities to perfection. (One failed punch and two other attempts with her chakra scalpels had proved completely futile - since he'd had the opportunity to assess her skills during their first battle in Konoha, he was not one to be taken by surprise again.)

She had glared at him, nursing a newly developed bruise on her stomach (she'd been a little too slow as he put forth an elbow, unfortunately). "Are you saying I'm weak?" Her temper steadily began to rise. She was not going to allow someone to downgrade her once again.

Itachi had glanced at her from the corner of his eye as he leaned against a tree. "You have some areas to improve on," he'd deadpanned, and walked away.

From that day on she worked constantly with kunai and shuriken for hours a day, relentlessly chucking them at the few trees available to her in the forest. The endless thunk thunk thunk sound that resonated as they were buried in the wood became imprinted into her mind.

She flew through the air, three kunai hooked on her fingers and a ferocious battle cry issuing through her mouth.

"Haaaah-chiyaaaaa!"

Silver glinted in the waning light before the weapons pierced straight into the targets they were aimed at: a trio of leaves falling through the air.

Sakura grinned, and after throwing five rounds of ten shuriken at their chosen destinations - and not missing them even by the smallest fraction of a centimeter - she thought that Tenten would be proud.

From then on, she practiced walking up and down trees while throwing her weapons (which wasn't too hard, since Sakura had great concentration), and then she worked on flipping through the air at the same time.

She created makeshift dummies out of old cloth and debris from the forest, and worked on her taijutsu ferociously. She ran laps around the motel and didn't stop until her lungs were bursting from lack of oxygen.

All in all, she felt she had improved greatly, even if it were in categories she should have already mastered.

Sakura and Desunei also worked together.

The Tigress Spirit, she learned, specialized in the workings of the mind. It explained how easily she'd gotten into Sakura's thoughts and memories. The Spirit could hear everything that went through Sakura's head - which meant she usually gave the pink-haired kunoichi her respected privacy, only listening in when things proved interesting or informing.

On the marked day of two weeks, Desunei showed Sakura what she deemed "a priceless artifact."

The Tigress Spirit sat with Sakura in the forest outside the motel - she was able to basically reform her chakra to create an ethereal form. Desunei's body shimmered faintly, and only her eyes seemed truly substantial.

By now, the golden marks on Sakura's skin had long since retreated into her seal (except for the seal itself and the designs on her face), her eyes were back to the pale jade they used to be, and she had learned to retract her fangs.

Well…she had learned to retract them, but she decided to show them anyway, since they seemed to deeply unsettle Itachi. In that she took great joy.

"Take this," Desunei ordered. Hanging from her paw was a small, beaded bracelet.

Sakura reached out and grabbed it. The jewelry was made out of an assortment of colors, ranging from an opaque stone to sapphire to tiger's eye. The beads clanked together softly as she examined it.

"What's this for?"

"It's a special kind of bracelet, one only people who have been trained especially to use it can utilize." The Tigress raised a claw to each of the small beads, pointing them out individually. "They each represent emotions or abilities. Emerald for love and perception, tiger's eye for personal insight, amber for intelligence, ruby for power, obsidian for healing and protection, dioptase for emotional patterns…the list goes on and on."

Sakura ran a finger over the tiger's eye, which happened to be the largest gem on the bracelet. "What exactly is the bracelet for, Desunei-sama?" Experimentally, she weaved her chakra into the tiger's eye, and suddenly all her jumbled thoughts came to a halt. Left in its wake was a feeling of perception and clarity. She found that her mind had been cleared of everything troubling, and peace was left behind it all.

Desunei's tail flicked. "I see you have already discovered a small part of its power, Sakura," she said approvingly. "I think I'll let you try to figure it out on your own."

Before Sakura could protest, the Spirit had returned herself into the kunoichi's mind.

Sakura grumbled and slid the bracelet on her arm before she walked toward her room.

She glanced down at the bracelet, curiosity weaving its way through her. Again, Sakura fused her chakra into the tiger's eye, and her mind cleared. It was as if she could look around and only see, experience, and feel without being interrupted by her own thoughts…just like meditating.

Now confused, Sakura placed chakra in the emerald, and a picture of Sasuke and Naruto standing together, tolerating each other, was put forth in her head. Along with it came the familiar burst of affection she felt when she saw either of them.

She held her wrist higher in the air, and took note that there were five other big stones, smaller than the tiger's eye, yet larger than the others. They were placed at even distances from each other, the circle eventually coming to connect with the tiger's eye.

Sakura recognized each of the five from her days at the academy; fire agate to ensure safety while overcoming problems; blue chalcedony to harmonize the body, mind, and spirit; dravite for self-healing and help in discovering self-acceptance and emotional strength; pietersite for cleansing and transformation; and sugilite to instill light and love in dark situations and to teach one how to live from their own truth.

Sakura turned the corner in the hall that led to her room, trying to piece that information together. Well, I know that fire agate is linked to the fire element, and dravite to the earth element…wait a second. Then that means-

Her thoughts were cut short abruptly as she passed by Itachi and Kisame's room, right next to hers. Their voices, hushed and secretive, barely reached her ears, but she made out their words well enough.

"So Hidan and Kakuzu finally got themselves killed, huh?" Kisame's voice was laden with amusement.

"Kakuzu, yes," Itachi replied stonily. "Hidan's still-talking remains were buried by his opponent."

Sakura froze just as she began turning the handle on her door - Desunei's ears perked up in her mind, listening intently also.

"Do you know exactly who it was that defeated the two mighty Zombie Akatsuki Brothers?"

"…my sources claim that Hidan was taken down by Nara Shikamaru, while Kakuzu was defeated by Uzumaki Naruto…and Hatake Kakashi."

Kisame laughed rather loudly (and rather maniacally). "Well, well, well. It seems as if we're going to have to watch ourselves around that group, don't you think, Itachi?"

Sakura heard some shuffling, then a sigh. "They will only prove to be a nuisance, not a hindrance. If they come any closer, we will just move to a different location."

The pink-haired kunoichi quickly entered her room and shut the door quietly, all thoughts of the bracelet on her wrist completely forgotten.

I failed again.

Naruto sat in the aftermath of his battle with Kakuzu, staring at the ground with his eyes hooded.

Our mission to bring Sasuke back failed.

Kakashi ended the Akatsuki member's life with a stab from his Chidori, his expression grim.

And now…Sakura's gone, too.

The copy-nin glanced at his old student and sighed. Their mission to kill Itachi hadn't gotten them anywhere, and neither had the one to bring Sakura back. It was as if they had disappeared off the face of the planet. Several times Kakashi's summoning dogs had picked up on the Uchiha's scent, only to find that it trailed off in twenty different directions. Nothing they did seemed to get them anywhere.

Naruto's fist clenched and he breathed deeply.

The two most precious people in the world are gone, all because I was too weak to save them. Some high-class ninja I am.

A tear fell.

For two weeks they had traveled all over, asking anybody they came across if they had seen the Uchiha, a blue-skinned man, or a pink-haired woman. Nothing. And then both groups sent out (Jiraiya's team and Neji's retrieval squad) received a message that they were to return back to Konoha, because, really, the search was useless.

Even Naruto agreed to retreat willingly. In the course of the next few weeks, he trained with Kakashi and Yamato, learned that he had a wind-based chakra, and began developing his new jutsu. Soon, Team 10 came back from their mission and delivered their grief-inducing news about Sarutobi Asuma, then set off again with Kakashi to complete the four-man formation and get revenge.

Eventually, Naruto, Sai, and Yamato were called as reinforcements for a battle against the two Akatsuki members.

I guess all I can do now is train and become stronger. I will grow powerful enough to bring them both back.

With that thought, Naruto stood up and hardened his gaze. "Let's go back home," he said softly.

Shikamaru glanced at him; their eyes met, and each nodded. They both understood what the other was going through - in such a short period of time, they had lost someone dear to them; Naruto, a part of his family; Shikamaru, a sensei who died with honor for all that he believed in.

And they took their loss in stride, and started on their new paths in life - for those who had gone, they would become stronger, because they knew that was what they would have wanted.

Toward Konoha the two men walked.

Sakura stole one last look at the rising sun; its multi-colored hue lit up her face majestically, and she cherished the warmth it brought her. For a moment she closed her eyes and, almost on reflex, poured chakra into the tiger's eye on her bracelet - it left her mind aware yet not responding for a short while. Mentally, she noted to continue her examination of the bracelet from last night.

Sakura opened her eyes and adjusted the pack on her shoulders, then stepped out of her room and headed down the hall.

Despite Desunei's reasoning to her to stay with Itachi, Sakura decided against it - he still hadn't spoken his plans to the kunoichi, so she didn't she why she should have to stay when she could be within her village - and that morning had her bag packed to go. So far, Itachi hadn't even taught her anything, just told her to practice with her aiming skills with kunai and shuriken out in the forest (many times already had she needed to sharpen them from such constant overuse).

During the past three weeks, she hadn't even seen much of the Uchiha (actually, in the middle of that time, she hadn't caught sight of him for six days, and the only answer Kisame gave her was that he had some "Akatsuki business"). Usually she would wake up, eat whatever food that had been left for her, train until she couldn't move, and then eat again before going back to sleep. She could always sense Kisame standing not too far away, watching her in case she were to ever try to escape.

Well, the blue-skinned man wasn't there now.

Sakura finally reached the end of the hall, and was about to continue on when she felt his chakra signature. She cursed mentally.

"Leaving, are you?" Itachi's voice drifted towards her, and her neck snapped up to see him leaning against a wall, eyes closed and head tilted up.

Sakura pressed her lips together. "I don't see why I should stay," she retorted and took a step forward. "You haven't taught me anything, and I don't even know why you want me here."

He turned his head and blinked slowly, assessing her with his gaze. After a pregnant pause, he ordered faintly, "Come," and walked off down the hall.

'This is it, Sakura,' Desunei whispered. 'Now you'll know why everything happened; you'll know why he did what he did.'

Curiosity took over, and she followed him.

Outside, Sakura found Itachi sitting in a high branch, one arm casually draped over his bent knee as he stared off into the shadows. Her steps faltered as she drew closer, and she was left standing next to the tree awkwardly.

He glanced down at her - a mere flicker of his red eyes - and murmured, "I won't hurt you."

Sakura's lips parted and her gaze flashed up before she wordlessly climbed up the tree, and hesitantly placed herself beside him.

Silence reigned for the longest time as they both stared out at the sun, their forms slowly being consumed by its golden light. Sakura nervously tapped her fingers against the branch to make the moment less pressing.

Finally, Itachi spoke. "I had a reason," he voiced quietly.

Sakura turned her head toward him to show she was listening.

He closed his eyes and placed his weight fully against the tree. "I had a reason for killing them."

The pink-haired kunoichi froze and her pale green orbs snapped over to him. He must be talking about his clan…

'Shhhh,' the Tigress coaxed. 'Just listen, child.'

Itachi's brow furrowed by the smallest degree before he resumed what he'd been saying, "You see, I was ordered to kill them all."

Orochimaru tilted his head to the side and stared at Kabuto, who seemed grim after relaying the information he'd gained to his master.

"I see," the Snake sannin hissed, his yellow eyes narrowed to slits. "Taking on an apprentice of his own, and one from Konoha at that."

Kabuto shifted on his feet. "Not to mention she used to be Sasuke-kun's teammate, and Tsunade's apprentice."

Orochimaru smiled, and his tongue came to slide across his thin bottom lip. "Well, won't this be interesting."

"Do you want me to tell him?" the silver-haired medic asked, pushing his glasses up further on his nose.

"No, that will not be necessary. I suppose it would be better to wait and see what happens." The Snake sannin began to laugh in that throaty, deranged way of his. "After all, it would just make our poor Sasuke-kun even more impatient to exact his revenge, and we still have months to come."

I once acted as a double spy for Konoha - as an ANBU, my father trusted me to inform him on anything suspicious the village planned. Really, though, I was passing information from my clan to the village. My family was planning to revolt.

Ba-bum.

I was given strict orders from the Village Elders to stop the Uchiha rebellion against them.

Ba-bum.

…so I killed them off, and joined Akatsuki to make sure the Elders did not forget me. But…

Ba-bum.

I didn't do it alone. Someone else helped me with the massacre when I asked.

Ba…bum…

Sasuke and I are not, in fact, the last two Uchihas.

…

There is another. His name is Uchiha Madara: the founder of the Uchiha clan.

Baba-bum. Baba-bum.

To this day he lives as the Akatsuki member known as Tobi. His most distinctive feature is the mask he wears to cover the Sharingan and his identity. Sakura…I want you to stay away from him.

Baba-bum.

'…why are you telling me this, Itachi-sama?'

A sigh. Red eyes flash away with the smallest hint of sadness churning in their crimson depths.

Eventually, Sasuke will track me down and kill me. I know, for one, that Madara will not let one powerful enough to defeat me go to waste, and he will take my little brother with him.

Pale fingers clench around the branch, their strength nearly crushing it to pieces. The heartbeat slows.

Sasuke will learn the truth behind the massacre, and he will want revenge.

Ba-bum.

He will want to destroy Konoha, just as Madara does. You see, Madara still holds the village responsible for not giving him power. Senju Hashirama, the Shodai Hokage, defeated him for the title as Konoha's lead shinobi. Everyone thought he was dead…yet now he is immortal.

Ba-bum.

Together Sasuke, Akatsuki, and Madara will move to take over Konoha…along with the remaining Tailed Demons.

Naruto.

Green eyes fight to hold back tears.

Not even I know what Madara is planning to do with such power, though he is without a doubt going to use it behind Akatsuki's Leader's back. He is stronger than any of us. In fact, he was the one who founded Akatsuki.

Ba-bum.

This is where you come in, Sakura.

Crimson locks with jade suddenly, intently.

You will be the one to stop Sasuke. Along with the Fujin na Tora Seishin and the results of my training you, you will be powerful enough.

Ba…

You will save Konoha.

…bum.

Sakura paused before finally knocking on Itachi's door.

A day had passed since she'd learned the truth behind everything he had done. Now, she did not know what to think of the Uchiha. Should she be angry that he'd gone through with the orders, even if that meant betraying his own village? Or should she sympathize with him?

Honestly, she had no idea what to do in that category. Well, not so much that she didn't know what to do, but rather that she was still so utterly stunned that she couldn't act on it.

Nothing Itachi had told her was a lie. No, he hadn't showed her the mission scroll that spelled it all out - he, after all, was not stupid, and had burned the thing years before so that no one ever had the chance to find it - but rather the look in his eyes when he told her of the Elder's orders confirmed the truth of his words. Desunei had even offered to show the pink-haired kunoichi some of Itachi's memories of the scroll, but Sakura had refused, because she knew everything the Uchiha said was not made up.

And now he expected her to become strong enough to stop Sasuke from destroying her village. Honestly, she didn't think she could do it. After that first encounter with him in years, she had witnessed just how powerful he'd grown. How could she compete?

Well, there wasn't any harm in trying.

Itachi cracked the door open just enough so he could see her. His one visible Sharingan eye gleamed maliciously.

"If you want me to stay with you, then teach me now," she said quickly. He continued to watch her. "Teach me anything you can that will help me bring Sasuke back."

His eyes flickered to the seal on her forehead and the designs on her face. He took in her fierce expression, the unwavering persistence in her pale jade eyes. "…very well," he finally murmured, and exited the room, his Akatsuki cloak swaying as he closed the door.

The Uchiha started forward some, and, realizing that she wasn't following, glanced back. Sakura's eyes were wide as she stared at his lean, tall form. He paused.

Her pale green orbs slid up to his crimson gaze, and then she blinked, and rushed forward to walk beside him. Itachi's lips tilted down a fraction - the only sign of his vague confusion - as Sakura smiled in anticipation of what was to come.

"From what I have seen, you have a great amount of chakra control."

Sakura nodded disconnectedly.

"Your weakest point seems to be ninjutsu, since genjutsu requires what chakra control you have, and your taijutsu skill level is increased by the massive strength you harbor." Itachi discarded his cloak before stepping out onto the small lake and motioning for Sakura to follow.

The lake reflected a rosy hue of the rising sun, and Sakura watched the colors ripple as she stepped onto the water. She and Itachi had traveled for about a mile in silence to reach their destination (she still didn't know why they had to come all the way to train), and now here they were, two lone souls standing in the middle of nowhere (the area beyond the motel seemed deserted).

"We will start on your weakest ability - as long as you are not skilled in ninjutsu, enemies will be able to use that against you." Itachi brought his hands up, as if he were about to perform hand seals. "If you want to master a jutsu, you need to know everything about it. Know how it forms, how it acts, how it affects an opponent. If you do not, then something unexpected can happen, and your own power can be used against you." Before Sakura could react, his hands flew through a number of seals, and she heard him mutter, "Suiton: Suigadan." Then water began to shoot out of the lake around her. Spiraling, three pointed columns of water rose and made to impale themselves in Sakura's body.

She gasped and ducked - they clashed just above her head, spraying cool liquid onto her face. Almost immediately they curved downward and continued on with their attack. Sakura darted between the base of two of the columns and glanced behind her, eyes wide, only to see one of the points a mere foot from her leg.

"Too slow," she heard Itachi call blandly.

Sakura propelled herself into the air without a second to waste, and her mind quickly went through several comprehensions: neither her super strength or chakra scalpels could help the situation. After all, you couldn't punch water or cut through it (well, you could, but it wouldn't get you anywhere, since you would just pass right through).

The only thing left was a substitution jutsu, but if she fled to the surrounding forest and stayed there, she wouldn't be fighting, only hiding. It was obvious that Itachi wanted her to fight his jutsu off…or did he?

"If you want to master a jutsu, you need to know everything about it. Know how it forms, how it acts, how it affects an opponent."

How it affects an opponent, Sakura realized. He wants me to feel the power of the jutsu, to know its full potential as if I were the one receiving it.

Unfortunately, she was a little too late in that understanding, and the water began to slice through her left arm as she flew through the air.

She cried out and reflexively pumped healing chakra into her right hand, slamming her palm onto the area wounded. The offending water splashed around its glowing green form, ricocheting and drenching Sakura as gravity finally began to take over.

The water fell out of its compacted form, and followed her descent to the lake below.

Only a last second reaction and the focusing of chakra to her feet prevented her from a painful immersion in the clear liquid.

Sakura clutched her wound, panting heavily as she healed it. When she heard a small snort in her mind, she grew angry. Desunei-sama, why didn't you help me?

'First of all,' the Spirit retorted, 'you didn't ask.'

Sakura bared her fangs a little, her eyes narrowed and glaring straight forward - rather blearily, since her attention was directed on something that couldn't be seen - as if the Tigress were standing right there. Truth be told, the kunoichi had completely failed to remember that Desunei even existed during her "diminutive scuffle" with Itachi.

Said Uchiha, who happened to be in Sakura's line of sight, dimly wondered if he had been a tad too harsh, considering the daunting look she seemed to be delivering him.

'And second of all,' the Spirit continued, 'even if you had asked, I wouldn't have assisted you.'

What? Why not?

'I'm not like the Kyuubi, Sakura. I won't win you out of difficult predicaments just because I have the power to, or because I would die if you did. I will not let you become accustomed to letting me do all the work - for instance, what if I were to disappear suddenly in a dire situation? What would you - who was used to me fighting your battles for you - end up doing? You wouldn't have my power to help you, so where would you be?' Desunei's voice had taken on a strict tone that Sakura thought faintly resembled Tsunade's.

Yeah, I guess you're right…

"Do you understand now?"

Sakura finally focused her eyes and found herself staring into Itachi's netted shinobi shirt. He stood right in front of her, no more than two feet away. She gulped and nodded. "Hai, I get it. This is to help me better understand the jutsu."

Itachi reached up and brushed his bangs out of his face, where they had been swaying in the light breeze. "You are partly correct. This exercise lets you feel the justu from an enemy's point of view. Now you will be able to know the escape plans most likely going through their mind, and since you have a vague idea of what they are going to do, you can counteract them."

No wonder he became an ANBU captain at age thirteen, Sakura grumbled in her mind.

'Hai,' the Tigress agreed. 'It is safe to discern that Uchiha Itachi is one of the most intelligent, capable ninjas you will ever meet…and coming from me, that's saying a lot.'

Now I know where Sasuke gets it from.

The Spirit, surprisingly, became silent. Then: 'Itachi and Sasuke are completely different people - don't you ever forget that.'

Her tone signaled that the conversation wasn't to be continued.

Sighing, Sakura folded her arms across her chest and recalled her talk with Itachi. "Alright, so what next?"

"Considering you don't know what elemental chakra you have, we will just have to see if you can work with water," the Uchiha stated, his eyes never leaving hers. "This jutsu can especially be used against any fast-moving fire jutsus, seeing as water is easy and quick to manipulate in heated battle - with enough concentration, of course."

Especially against fire jutsus, he'd said.

Especially against Sasuke's fire jutsus, her mind whispered.

Sakura's eyes closed momentarily in realization of how serious this situation - this life -was becoming.

Itachi's monotone voice echoed dimly in her ears, as if he were speaking to her through a tunnel. "Now, to begin, focus chakra where you are connected with the water…"

On impulse, she interrupted him. "Itachi-sama?" Her eyes opened and she held her gaze on the necklace around his neck, just so she wouldn't have to look at his Sharingan.

His mouth closed from where he had been about to speak, and he regarded her lowered eyes carefully. "…yes?"

"You never did tell me why you let Sasuke live."

Silence.

Hesitantly, she looked up, and found that his eyes had closed. His expression softened, the muscles on his face relaxed and a small, forlorn smirk replaced his usual flat mouth.

When his eyes finally peeled open, the Sharingan was not present, but rather his murky black orbs met hers calmly. His voice, when he spoke, turned languid and rough with hidden emotion

"Could you possibly kill the one person most dear to you?"

…

It took Sakura a while to actually let the words run through her brain, and even longer to realize the full meaning of them.

Most dear.

Unconsciously, she took a step back from Itachi, and had to remember to keep chakra regulating at her feet so she wouldn't fall through the water.

Itachi's eyes searched hers, their minute flickering movements reading her expression and calculating her response.

"Why, then?" Her voice cracked on the last word.

His face remained stoic.

"Why wouldn't you tell him?" she yelled, and her fangs flashed. "Sasuke left the village because he thought you had murdered your clan mercilessly! Why didn't you tell him the real reason? You could've saved him from all the hate and anger he's lived by for so long…" She trailed off, and then snapped her glare back to the Uchiha. "Why didn't you tell Sasuke?"

"That," Itachi said slowly, quietly…dangerously, "is for me to know, and you to ignore."

"H-how can you expect me to just let that go?" Her eyes gleamed with barely hidden fury. "If he knew, then he would come back to Konoha and-"

"Continue to try to get his revenge," the Uchiha filled in faintly. His head turned to the side, and he gazed out at the mountains miles away. "If he knew, he would try to destroy the Leaf Village sooner."

Sakura fumed and growled, "If you won't tell him, then I will."

"Hn." Itachi eyebrow's raised by the slightest degree. "You think you could get him to listen to you?"

Her mouth opened, then snapped shut, and she closed her eyes. "No…" she whispered dejectedly.

Sasuke had never listened to her.

And even if she could find him, he would probably try to kill her again. Even if she tried to explain, he wouldn't believe anything without proof. And she didn't have the mission scroll…

It was no use. But, maybe if she could somehow show Sasuke Itachi's memories of the scroll, then everything would be alright and he would come home.

'Sakura, you're not thinking rationally!' Desunei said harshly. 'You honestly think Sasuke would return to Konoha in peace, knowing the whole time that it was by orders of the Village Elders that his clan was killed in the first place?'

I have to try! Sakura snapped back. Maybe Naruto or I could convince him that he doesn't need to kill the Elders.

'Child, you know he won't listen,' the Tigress's voice was calmer now, meant to sooth. 'He has been driven by revenge his whole life - you honestly think words or actions can change that?'

Sakura breathed in and out slowly, trying to get her emotions under control. Her cheeks were flushed a heavy pink, her teeth clenched, and her eyebrows had drawn together.

Calm down, Sakura, she told herself. You let your emotions run wild far too often, and you know Desunei is right…

Sasuke won't change.

And now you are stuck with his stoic, murdering brother who actually did not want to kill him.

"What have I gotten myself into?" she groaned, and then froze. Uh-oh, I said that out loud, didn't I?

Itachi frowned mildly. "May I remind you that you agreed to come with me?"

She glared. "Yes, and may I remind you that I decided against it and you knocked me out?"

He lifted his shoulders slightly, and shifted his eyes to meet hers. "You panicked and made an illogical choice; but do you regret the decision now?"

Her lack of response positioned a smirk on his lips that read, "Didn't think so."

"Enough of that," she said heatedly. "Back to the jutsu - so what do you do after you focus chakra to your feet?"

Sakura noticed that the Sharingan had replaced Itachi's enrapturing onyx eyes, and for some reason, she was saddened by that. It was almost as if he let his guard down in those few moments…like he showed who he truly was.

She made it one of her goals to see his true eyes more often.

And if Itachi had known her better, he would be able to see a flash of admiration lurking with her pale jade depths.

Even so, he noticed how her harsh tone alleviated, and her expression diminished to one of grateful conviction.

"Next come the hand seals," he explained smoothly. "Once your chakra is formed and ready, and the seals are completed, you have to focus on compacting the chakra while at the same time adding it to the water." He made sure she was listening, and wasn't too surprised to see her intent eyes watching him, memorizing everything he told her. "To make the jutsu more useful and damaging, it is wise to add a spinning motion, also. It would be best if you had great chakra stores and could easily draw large amounts of water, but seeing as you do not, you need to conserve."

Sakura grimaced at being reminded that her chakra stores were not the highest in the world.

"Your chakra control can help here. Not only will you be able to spin your chakra along with the water precisely, but you can fluctuate the sizes you want the drills to be. Smaller if you need to dodge quickly, and larger if you are sure of a killing blow."

She had not seen Itachi talk so much in the time she'd been with him. She knew he was only talking because he had to explain the jutsu to her, but still.

He showed her the long stream of hand seals, and she ran through them a couple times just to make sure she had them down (really, though, she had them committed to memory as he demonstrated).

After, she placed her chakra - which had been given a unique form and task by means of the seals, as hand seals did with every jutsu - out into the water, her hands folded into the sign of the horse.

Alright, good so far, she thought approvingly. Now I just have to control the water with my chakra and force it upward.

Her eyebrows twitched when that didn't happen immediately.

Itachi glanced at her and then back down to the water.

After about five minutes, Sakura was panting, but she smiled gleefully when a small bump of water - no more than two inches in height - pushed its way up.

Two more of those, sharpened points, and spinning motions and then I'll be good to go, she rallied herself.

Itachi settled back and waited for the long day to come.

Naruto stirred his ramen around glumly with his chopsticks, cheek in hand.

"Everything alright, Naruto? I've never seen you act like this before. You're not even on your sixth bowl yet!"

Ayame stared down at him worriedly.

The blonde took in a deep breath and then grinned at the older lady. "Heh-heh, I'm okay! Just got a lot on my mind, you know? I'm thinking about taking the next Chuunin Exams so I can finally catch up with all my friends and maybe get a few A-ranked missions in before then." His words were rushed, forced almost.

"Ah, that's right, you're still a genin, aren't you?" Ayame tilted her head to the side and smiled.

Naruto grumbled before roughly shoving some of the lukewarm noodles in his mouth. She laughed, and disappeared back into the kitchen.

The blonde glared at his bowl intensely.

"N-Naruto-kun?" A hesitant, small voice broke through his depressed stupor, and he looked over to see a blushing face hidden behind the ramen bar's curtains.

"Hinata-chan? Is that you?" His mood instantly lightened, and he grinned.

"H-hai," she said faintly, and her red color deepened.

"Well what are you doin' standing over there, Hinata-chan?" Naruto waved her over, and she stumbled her way to place herself beside him. "Do you want some ramen? My treat!"

"N-no thank you, Naruto-kun," she whispered, and pushed her index fingers together anxiously. "Um, I w-was just wondering if maybe y-you would like to train with me later." Her head bent down in embarrassment.

Naruto openly stared (which caused said girl he was staring at to almost faint) before beaming at her. "Thanks, Hinata-chan, I would love to! Uh, here"- his head whipped from side to side, looking for his jacket which he found crumbled up on the floor -"let me just pay really quick and then we can go!"

He sweat dropped at the sight of his open and very empty frog wallet. "Oh, great," he groaned. "I'm completely broke"- he paused and rethought this -"again!"

And then his savior came to him in the form of a blushing girl with blue-violet hair and white eyes. She pulled out a handful of coins and quietly placed them on the table.

Naruto's eyes widened comically. "Ah - no, that's okay, Hinata-chan! You don't have to pay for me. I'll, um, I'll just see if maybe Kakashi-sensei or someone-"

At that precise moment the silver-haired jonin walked by, face in his book. "Don't even think about it, Naruto," he drawled and continued on his way.

"It's o-okay, Naruto-kun, I want to," Hinata insisted gently.

The blonde shrugged his jacket on and gave her a thumbs up. "Alright, whatever you say, Hinata-chan, but next time I'm taking you out to dinner! Anywhere you want to go, I promise!"

She could do nothing but nod her head and blush further.

Naruto grabbed her hand and tugged her along to the training grounds, assuring her, "I'll go easy on you while we're training, Hinata-chan. If you want to take a break then just tell me."

Three minutes later:

BAM!

"O-oh my, a-are you okay, N-Naruto-kun?" Hinata frantically waved her hand in front of the blonde's unfocused eyes.

Naruto blinked, and reached up to rub at his neck. "Whoa," he choked. "What happened?" He looked around and saw Hinata's light pink face, the fading veins around her eyes, and then he grinned. "That was AWESOME, Hinata-chan! How did you do that? I could've sworn you were about to go in for a punch to the stomach, and then suddenly something hit my neck and I went flying!"

The Hyuuga's face steadily turned red, and her fingers pressed together. She avoided his gaze. "A-are you alright, Naruto-kun?"

He blinked. "Yeah, I'm fine, no need to worry about me! My neck's a little sore, though I'm sure it will be fine tomorrow." The blonde slung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to his side. "I just can't believe how good you've gotten!"

Hinata's eyes bulged. I-Is Naruto-kun actually hugging me?

Her last shred of hope to stay conscious flew out the window, and she fainted.

"EH? What's wro - uh-oh. Hey, Hinata-chan, wake up!"

Itachi frowned when Sakura didn't open the door to her room (though he was secretly glad she didn't, because he had no idea why he'd knocked anyway). He checked the area, and couldn't find her chakra signature within the motel building.

His eyes narrowed before he turned and swept away down the hall, his cloak swaying gracefully.

The front door banged against the wall as he pushed it open, and his Sharingan scoured the area outside. Crickets chirped under the crescent moon, and the stars shined luminously above. The wind blew furiously through the trees, making the branches sway and the leaves clatter together.

There wasn't a sign of the pink-haired girl.

Itachi searched the area again with his senses, and found her dim chakra signature about thirty feet off to his right. She didn't seem to be moving.

He let out a light breath, and walked toward her.

She was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the field of grass outside the motel, hands folded in the seal of the tiger. Her head tilted down, and her eyes were closed in concentration. The muted moonlight cast an eerie glow upon her face and hair, making the pink seem almost white and her skin even paler than it had been.

As he stepped closer silently, she opened one eye and peered at him. He paused.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice quiet.

His lips thinned, and the Sharingan gleamed through the darkness.

Sakura sighed, exposed both of her eyes, and patted the ground beside her. "Well, don't just stand there, come sit with me."

"You should be back in your room," Itachi replied smoothly.

"Yes, but it's so pretty out tonight." She placed her hands in her lap and slanted her head back to gaze at the stars. "You don't need to worry - I'm not going to run away."

He proceeded to stare at her without a word.

Sakura looked at him, and her brows puckered. "I really don't understand why you're just standing there."

Diffidently, he walked over and placed himself behind her, lowering himself to the ground elegantly so that their backs faced each other. He crossed his legs as she did.

And then all they could hear was their own steady breathing, the whoosh of the wind, and the constant tune of the crickets. Far off, a toad croaked.

For once, Sakura found comfort in the silence. She didn't feel the sudden urge to start a conversation or shift uneasily. It was peaceful.

She could sense Desunei's light purr in her mind, as if she were sleeping.

Itachi let his eyes drift shut, and his hands hung limp in his lap. He focused on emptying his mind of any thoughts, pushed out anything that would break his harmonization with nature. He let every sound invade his senses almost overwhelmingly.

When she finally broke the noiselessness, her voice was soft and careful. "What was he like?"

"…hn?" Itachi's lips tilted down.

"Sasuke…what was he like before you…left?"

His eyelids lifted, and he stared out into the tall, dark trees ahead of him. "Didn't you know him then?"

Sakura sighed and fiddled with the long grass around her. "Of course I knew who he was - everyone did - and I had a crush on him, but…later on I realized he wasn't perfect, just like the rest of us. Before the massacre, he was still pretty withdrawn and quiet…I just want to know how he acted with you and your clan…" She left the sentence hanging, knowing that he understood what she was talking about.

"Sasuke…was a imprudent little brother who showed too much emotion," Itachi stated uniformly.

Sakura felt the shock course through her. For someone who had earlier claimed Sasuke was the most precious person in the world to them, that was a little harsh-

"Yet I cared for him, even if he didn't know. Even if he doesn't know it now." His tone was final, and Sakura didn't dare try to get more out of him. She actually didn't need to know more. What he'd said before and what he had said now were enough for her.

With that, her respect for the man behind her grew.

And the silence consumed them once again.

Itachi didn't know how many hours passed - he didn't really care. His old memories dominated his mind, forcing him to relive everything before the darkness overcame his life. Sasuke's smiling face was the main picture presented to him.

Eventually, though, he beat them back. That part of his existence meant nothing to him now - all he needed to do was focus on the future, and make sure his plans did not become meaningless.

He was about to close his eyes again - they had been watching the trees without relaying the information back to his brain - when he felt a slight pressure on his back.

The Uchiha froze, and slowly turned his head to see behind him.

Sakura had fallen asleep, and now her turned head leaned on his shoulder while the rest of her body slumped beside him, her back pressed against his.

Itachi didn't know what to do. If he stood up, she would fall back and probably hurt her head in the process. But on the other hand, they couldn't stay out there all night.

Before he knew it himself, he had twisted and moved to hold her in his arms. Gracefully he rose to his feet and without a second thought walked toward the motel.

Itachi's eyes remained on her sleeping form all the while - maybe she had been too tired from the day's training and needed rest. After all, she had managed to get one water drill ten feet into the air by the end of the day. It'd even had a slightly pointed tip.

When he'd first learned the jutsu, it had taken him at least two days to get that far.

Whether or not she had fallen asleep from weariness or lack of sleep, he was still placidly shocked at her faith in him. No one in their right mind would ever let their guard down around Uchiha Itachi…unless they were suicidal. Letting your guard down was enough of a mistake on its own, but to fall asleep so simply nearly guaranteed danger.

Foolish girl, he thought on instinct.

And as he placed her gently in her bed - making sure the covers were pulled all the way up to her neck - the red of his Sharingan faded to black.

Her easily placed trust so very much reminded him of Sasuke.

((It's as if every day I'm with you, I walk alongside fire. The heat blinds and consumes. Yet its beauty enraptures all who are patient enough to look deeper. They see different colors, witness its majestic way of moving, breath in its murky scent. Some can never take their eyes away. But, just when you think you know everything about it, the fire lashes out.

It is untamable - if you get too close, the burn is all you can feel.

And every day I'm with you, the fire grows closer.

Yet I don't want to move away.))

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter (over seven thousand words AGAIN)! Oh, yeah, and that little end thingy…well, in my eyes, it would be Sakura thinking of Itachi (or Sasuke, even, though that wouldn't really work here). Yep, don't know why I put that there, it just appeared magically in my mind. :/

Water will be Sakura's new elemental chakra! Water had four votes, earth had three. Sorry if you're not happy with it, but I did say majority wins. It's not confirmed in this chapter, but she does show the ability of being able to use it. Later on it will be finalized! Oh, and I know the bracelet and its powers did not get explained either, but it will next chapter, I promise! Feel free to guess what it can do. ;P

Please review! You guys are my inspiration!

Well, until next time…