AN: Here's another chapter. I hope you enjoyed this one. Thank you to those who reviewed and gave their feedback. I plan on reworking the previous chapter a bit when I go to reconstruct the story.

I would like to point out a (portion of a) review by V-ChanLSSJ:

"This chapter was certainly interesting. I might have read something similar about the scroll Sakura found that supplies the ability to contain and use the Sharingan, it sounds familiar."

Here's why I'm pointing this out: I feel as if I've read the idea somewhere else too. I'd love to say that the idea was completely original, but when I decided to include that as part of the story, it felt super familiar to me as well. I've been reading fanfiction for a very long time, and there is the possibility that I found that in another story years ago and subconsciously buried it. If I knew the story, or knew that the story existed with this idea, I wouldn't have put or I would have changed it a bit.

So my plea to reviewers: if you know what story V-ChanLSSJ and I may be thinking about, then please let me know. I do not wish to blatantly plagiarize ideas, even if it is fanfiction. At least that way, I can perhaps give the author credit for the idea. Then again, if I do find an author who had the idea, how do I know if they came up with it by themselves? There could be other stories out there with the same idea and I wouldn't want to credit one while not crediting the others. Huff, huff. It's a fickle world we live in. Anyway, let me know if any of you have any ideas.

Some people also were confused at the purpose of the Sharingan and introducing it to Sakura. For now, it has none. However, it is important for the sequel and it would make no sense to introduce it later. It fit well with what I was doing now. I'm sorry if that was very unclear. I hope I clear up some of that in this chapter.

Anyway, I'll stop yammering now and let you read. Thank you for reading and please review!

Nothing but the Truth

Chapter 16: Something Perfect

"I think our last kiss was meant to be quick and chaste, but after the first touch of his lips fire leaped up and roared through my belly. My fingers yanked him close, digging into his back, and his arms crushed me to him as if wanting to meld us together. I knotted my fingers in his hair and bit down on his bottom lip, making him groan. His lips parted, and my tongue swept in to dance with his. There was nothing sweet or gentle in our last kiss; it was filled with sorrow and desperation, of the bitter knowledge that we could've had something perfect, but it just wasn't meant to be."

-Julie Kagawa, The Iron Daughter

"Next week," she said definitely, looking over her notes in the dark cell, a small flashlight lighting the contents of her research.

Sasuke was propped up against the wall on his bed, eyeing her warily. Sakura had just spent the last hour probing his mind dutifully. This time, she hadn't been expelled when Sasuke had tried to force her out. She watched him transform as he fully succumbed to his curse seal. His usually deep, masculine voice was replaced with a hiss that made her skin crawl, and for the first time in a long time, she felt truly frightened of Sasuke. Even the day at the bridge, when he'd tried to kill her, she had never been so afraid of him.

Sasuke gave her a look, asking her what she meant. "I'll be prepared to separate Orochimaru from you next week," she explained. "I've been working for a month on a solution, and I think I figured out a way to do it. We won't know until we try, right?"

Sasuke shrugged. Sakura pursed her lips a bit, "Sasuke, I'm going to need Itachi to help me with the procedure."

Instantly, Sasuke stiffened and sent her a withering glare. "No," was his sort, angry answer.

Sakura exhaled loudly, not the least surprised by his angry reaction. "It's something he did with my inner when we first met. I don't know how to describe it…but he…fused us using the Tsukuyomi. My inner was always a part of me, but she was a separate entity completely. Using his Mangekyo, he was able to fuse her consciousness in with mine. At first I thought he had just hidden her behind my mental barrier that I have in place, but I can feel her…with me...I guess is the only way to describe it. So, if Itachi can fuse two conscious together, then he should be able to separate them. I asked him, and he said it was plausible," Sakura explained dutifully, ignoring the glares that Sasuke sent to her. Sighing lightly, she pleaded, "Sasuke…this is the only way…"

His lips thinned into a firm line, his stature stiff from where he sat. Finally, he conceded, "Fine, but he's not to utter one damned word to me or I'll kill him where he stands. And this is his one free pass. If I see him again, then I'll kill him."

"I understand," Sakura replied warily, a sad smile plastered on her features. "Sasuke…do you even want to stay?"

He was silent for a few moments, and Sakura was about to just turn and leave when he answered.

"I've had a lot of time alone in here by myself. And I've thought about some things, and Naruto and Kakashi have talked to me a lot about some stuff. But, yes. You were right. I can't…I can't defeat him on my own," he stated calmly.

"Revenge won't bring you happiness Sasuke," Sakura murmured. "In fact, I believe that if you kill your brother, it will bring you the greatest sadness of all."

Sasuke regarded her silently; his face impassive, but his onyx eyes were staring into hers as if he were trying to figure out exactly what she knew that made her so sure of herself in that statement. It took all of her willpower not to spill everything she knew right there. However, there was a time and place for that conversation and now wasn't it. Someday Sasuke would discover the truth about his family's death, and Sakura sincerely hoped it would be before it was too late to save Itachi and Sasuke. Because she knew Sasuke well enough to know that if he killed Itachi, it would destroy him. It would take whatever little hope they had of saving his soul and crush it like a bug under a heavy combat boot. There would be no room for salvation for him if he killed his brother under the impression that Itachi was a cold-hearted, hateful murderer.

Sakura gave him one last sad smile, nodded, and stepped out of the room. Genma was standing guard outside of the door, and she could practically see his smile below the ANBU mask.

"You are to meet with someone who wishes to speak with you outside of the gates where you usually cross," he whispered. Sakura went to hand him the scroll that was in her hand, a report to give to Tsunade, but he shook his head. "You can give it to her yourself. I just didn't want you to be too surprised when you saw her, but she's already waiting for you."

Sakura smiled and snuck out of the village, anticipation coursing through her blood at the promise of seeing Tsunade. It was still hard every time she did this – leaving. Every time she had to keep herself from crawling into her apartment and sleeping. It took all of her willpower not to sneak into Naruto's hole of an apartment and climb into bed with him, snuggling him until she fell asleep like she had so many times before. Nonetheless, every time she came, she would leave again. Itachi would meet her outside of the village, near where she left her Akatsuki cloak, and make up some lame excuse as to why he was there; when really, he was there to make sure she came out. It was so sweet it almost made her cry because she would be leaving him soon.

But silently, without speaking a word, they had agreed to enjoy the short amount of time they had left together. Their time was growing shorter and shorter, and now it was limited to a little over a week. As she jumped from the top of the wall, she saw a familiar figure leaning casually against a tree. Her honey-colored eyes were light, a playful smile crossing her lips as her arms were crossed over her large bosom.

"Shishou!" Sakura whisper-cried, running to Tsunade, her arms outstretched. Tsunade grabbed her apprentice-turned-daughter in a tight hug. This was the first time they'd seen each other in real life in over four months.

"Sakura," Tsunade greeted, pulling the girl back by the shoulders and looking her up-and-down thoughtfully. "It's good to see they aren't starving you over there. How are you?"

Sakura beamed up at her mentor. "I'm alright. Genma has been giving you the reports I've been making about Sasuke?"

"Of course. Is that another one?" Tsunade asked, motioning to the scroll in Sakura's hands. Sakura nodded and gave her the scroll. Unraveling it quickly, Tsunade read through the contents twice. "You've told Sasuke your plans?"

Sakura nodded an affirmation. She said warily, "Yeah, he's not happy about it, but he'll have to live with it. He promised not to try and kill Itachi when he saw him."

Tsunade let out a derisive snort. "Speaking of Itachi, tell him he's not as good at hiding his chakra signature as he thinks," she chortled. Pointing a finger over her shoulder, she continued, "He's about a hundred yards that way."

Sakura smiled softly and nodded. "He comes to make sure I come back," she said wistfully.

Tsunade smiled knowingly, yet uncertainly, at her young, emotional apprentice. Sometimes the Godaime wondered if her student knew exactly what she was getting into when she decide to become romantic with the elder Uchiha – not that Sakura had confessed to the relationship out loud, but the implications were obviously there. Of course, Tsunade trusted Sakura to make her own decisions, but her apprentice was young and still naïve to the world. She still believed that she could save everyone.

The two chatted for a few more minutes, discussing the details of the procedure and the plans for after. When the sun began to rise over the horizon, Sakura looked into the trees. She was sure she caught a flash of red from where Itachi had been, but it was gone in the next instant. It was his way of telling her it was time to go.

"I best go, shishou," she finally concluded. Giving her mentor a large, longing hug, she parted with Tsunade giving her the promise she would see her next week.

When the Godaime jumped skillfully over the wall, Sakura made her way into the forest and found Itachi leaning against a tree, eyes closed, as if he had been sleeping there all night. Sakura smiled down at him when he opened one blood-red eye.

"Ready to go?" he asked impassively, not bothering to give an excuse as to his presence this time. Sakura nodded and pretended not to notice the way he scanned her body thoroughly, checking to make sure Sasuke hadn't hurt her again.

"I'm fine," she answered the unasked question. Pecking him on the lips playfully, she jumped into the trees and set off for the base. However, they both knew that this would be the last time they made this journey together. So they walked, went a little slower, and didn't speak of unpleasant things.

Instead, they talked of books, of memories – the happy ones, of ramen, and of obnoxiously loud teammates. He told her of Shisui. She told him of Naruto. He told her of his chunin exams. She stiffened and bit her lip when he asked about hers. So the conversation dropped into a content, comfortable silence as one thought about what the other was thinking of.

X

Uchiha Itachi had never been happy. Sure, prior to the death of his clan, he had memories when he had been amused or even content. There were even times when he had laughed. However, he had never been truly happy. That was until Haruno Sakura fought with her bare fists into his life, knocking back the pain and sadness that had resonated within him for so long. She had come in fighting, and she was still fighting, he was sure.

If this wasn't happiness, then Itachi did not believe that happiness existed. His chest became light with elation just thinking about her. He was addicted to her kisses, her touch, the way she smiled at him, the way she hummed to herself. If Deidara or Kisame mentioned her name, his ears would automatically listen in on the conversation. Usually, it was just a story about her, but Itachi didn't care. For some inexplicable reason, he had to know everything about her.

She was his reason for waking up in the morning. She was the one bright spot in the black hole that was his existence. She was the reason why he wanted to live.

And he utterly hated her for it.

Of course, he really didn't hate her, per se. There was admittedly some resentment there. She had waltzed into his life, arguing and fighting the entire dance, and changed it to a tango rather quickly. That's just what she did when she found a partner worth dancing with, it seemed. The woman was admittedly selfish. She had told Itachi as much once, saying that she wanted him to live and she was going to do everything in her power to make him live a full life – and she was doing it just as much for herself as she was for him.

Itachi shifted in his bed, peering down at the woman that had her arms wrapped tightly around his torso, trying not to wake her. In preparation for tomorrow, she had been up late working so she would not be getting much sleep as it was. For the past week, they had spent copious amounts of time together. She spent less time researching and sparring, and more time eating with them and conversing with them. She was making sure to spend as much time with the three men that she could because in two short days, she would be leaving them forever.

She was clad in one of his old shirts, the Uchiha crest blazoned on the back proudly. Usually he would not consent to such physical contact, he was hardly one to cuddle like she was now, but tomorrow was a big day for the both of them, and maybe he needed her as much as she needed him right now. Sighing, Itachi continued his musings as sleep evaded him.

What the infuriatingly addicting kunoichi didn't realize is that she was quickly becoming his reason to live. It wasn't worth waking up if she wasn't lying there next to him, unruly pink hair flying over her peaceful face. It wasn't worth waking up if her eyes wouldn't flutter open a few minutes later, fixate on him, and brighten into one of the most infallible smiles that reached her entire face. It wasn't worth waking up if she didn't jump out of bed, announce she would cook everyone breakfast, and make a beeline for the door only to realize she was hardly dressed to be leaving the confines of her bedroom. She would run over to the dresser, unabashedly rip off whatever shirt she had been wearing – usually the one Itachi had been wearing the day before – and pull on real clothes in order to avoid the snickers from Kisame and Deidara. The entire time, he would observe her, thoroughly amused, and happy.

She was why life was worth it – everything. She was why it was worth waking up in this horrible place where he was commanded by a man he didn't respect. She was why it was worth dealing with the hallow pit that formed in his chest every time he thought about his family, when he thought about all of his past sins. Because when he looked into her eyes, and she would stare at him like she was searching for something. Then, her face would go somber like she had seen something she'd feared was there, and she would half-whisper, "You're a hero, Itachi. Don't you ever think otherwise."

And somehow, he would find himself believing her because of how fiercely she believed.

So when she had begun her research, and discovered the scroll of the Sharingan, Itachi was momentarily horrified. The Sharingan was dangerous – very, very dangerous. It created the curse of hatred that thrived within so many of the Uchiha clan. It had been what forced him to murder his entire family. Sasuke was a victim of the curse of hatred.

However, Sakura was different. She was light itself. So, he decided, in order for to be saved from the darkness, he would train her how to utilize the Sharingan properly. It was difficult for her. It seemed that every time she wanted to activate it, she would have to cut her thumb and use the hand signs. Itachi wracked his brain for another way, but it didn't seem that there was.

Short and simple, it was only a jutsu. A normal jutsu that required hand signs and blood – almost like a summon; almost as if the wielder was summoning the Sharingan into their eyes. But Sakura was good with it. Over the past few weeks, she had become very proficient in utilizing the normal Sharingan to the best of her capabilities. She could now activate it and use it in battle for two hours without wasting copious amounts of chakra. In all honesty, Itachi was proud of her. Her hard work had paid off, and she was stronger than any ninja that Konoha had to offer – and that included his foolish younger brother.

Itachi sighed inaudibly again. Yes, his foolish younger brother that he would be facing in a few hours. The woman below him shifted and yawned. Her lazy jade eyes drifted open a bit and peered up at him.

"'Tachi?" she mumbled in her half-sleep state. Her face was the epitome of being sleep-confused, and Itachi couldn't stop himself when his hand reached out to gently stroke her cheek and tuck a few strands of pink hair behind her ear.

"Hm?"

"Why aren't you sleepin'?" she asked, stretching languidly as a content mewl came from the back of her throat. It was perhaps one of the most adorable noises he had ever heard. "Nervous for tomorrow?"

"Hn," Itachi replied warily. Sakura pushed herself up to support herself on her arms.

"It'll be fine…" she murmured. Leaning over, she pecked his cheek lightly. After another small yawn, she smiled sheepishly at him. "We should go to bed… whatchu readin'?"

Itachi looked down at the book in his hand that he hadn't really been reading. It had just simply been open while he thought of the day to come. His favorite novel rested easily against his lap. The black font was small, and the margins held his black script on the sides. They were just his thoughts on the novel. He had received this particular edition from his mother on his thirteenth birthday, so he kept it with him always.

"Just a book," he replied evenly. Sakura craned her neck over to look at the passage he was reading.

"Why do you write in your books?" she asked intently as her eyes ghosted over the even script that rest in the margins.

"It helps me remember what I was thinking at the time I first read the book," Itachi replied. "This particular copy is ten years old."

Sakura's eyes widened. "Your handwriting was this good when you were thirteen?" she asked incredulously.

Itachi couldn't help but emit a low chuckle at her question. "It would appear so," was his even response.

Sakura gave him a half-smile and pushed more of her unruly hair out of her eyes. She got a little closer to him, trying to decipher his words. After a few moments, she asked, "What kind of things do you write?"

"Thoughts," Itachi replied evenly.

"Like what?" Sakura asked. This was how their conversations tended to work out. There had only been a few occasions where Itachi would speak freely, without Sakura badgering him for more information. Usually, she would pick a subject and ask him questions. He would respond evenly, with one or two word phrases. If she was lucky, he might give her a full sentence.

"What I thought of a particular literary device, plot development, character," he explained as if he were talking to a small child.

Sakura's eyes widened. "You did that at thirteen?" she asked happily. "I don't think I could concoct such intelligent thoughts to write in a book now, much less when I was thirteen. If it were my thirteen-year-old self, there would just be scribbles of Mrs. Sasuke Uchiha written in the margins with big hearts."

She laughed and he quirked his lips up in an amused smile.

"What would your thoughts say now?" he asked casually, snapping the book closed and sliding downwards into the bed. She joined him, wrapping her arms around his waist again as his arm went comfortably around her head, his hand going to hold her shoulder. Once again, he allowed the contact. He was getting better at not automatically flinching away from her each time she touched him.

"Hmmm," Sakura mused playfully. "I'd probably write down how hungry I was. Or I would mock any medical inconsistencies in the book. Or perhaps I would write Mrs. Itachi Uchiha all over with hearts and scribbles."

She laughed again but it was cut off when his arm that had been wrapped around her shoulder tightened ever-so-slightly. Her eyes flew to his face automatically to find him regarding her with a serious expression. Suddenly, she felt self-conscious. Had she said something wrong? Perhaps the joke about being Mrs. Itachi Uchiha had been inappropriate. Of course he wouldn't want her joking about those things when he probably didn't feel as strongly for her as she did for him. For all she knew, she was just a good lay and some companionship to him. Subconsciously, she knew that wasn't true. She knew that she had to be more to him than that. But she didn't know for sure because he didn't tell her how he felt. She wasn't much better. It's not as if she had made some declaration of love and he'd rebuffed her. The silence that reigned after her joke-turned-disaster was tense and uncomfortable.

Sakura was about to apologize when Itachi interrupted her, breaking the silence. "You will leave tomorrow with the group from Konoha?" he asked quietly. His voice held tenseness to it that she had never heard before.

"Uhm," Sakura gulped. She coughed a bit, clearing her throat. "No. The council is still suspicious of me, I guess. So they want to make it look like a real rescue mission. Tsunade has a mission report and a team assigned. Tomorrow, I will return to the base with you. We'll spend the night and then the next morning we will go for a walk in order to make it look like we're 'switching bases.' The team will arrive, I'll exchange hands and probably create some mock-injuries on us, and then we'll head back. I've talked with Deidara and Kisame and they said it was alright."

Itachi's grip on her shoulder relaxed a bit. He had one more night with her, he thought to himself. There was still one more night for him to hold her, make love to her, and enjoy her presence in his life for just a little longer. He, in an uncharacteristic show of affection, he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. Her eyes went wide for a moment before a soft smile graced her features.

"Let's go to sleep. It'll be a big day tomorrow," she said. Her eyes closed and she placed her head on his chest, listening to his even, healthy heart beating. As her mind drifted into the deepest realms, she was sure she heard him whisper 'I'll miss you' into her hair.

X

The darkness of pre-dawn was quiet and cold. Frost had dusted over the forest and Sakura shivered slightly in her Akatsuki cloak. Her soft footsteps, along with those of her companions, were barely audible as she made her way through Fire Country's forests. They were on their way to an abandon shack that Sakura had found to extract Orochimaru from Sasuke. Tsunade, along with a whole slew of guards, should be waiting for them by now.

Itachi was nervous. His face would never show it, but his body was rigid and he flinched every few moments. When Sakura's arm would brush against his inadvertently, his entire body would freeze for an instant. She looked at him understandingly, knowing that this would be incredibly difficult for both him and Sasuke. This would be the first time in fifteen years that they would see each other and Sasuke wouldn't attack – theoretically.

Kisame and Deidara padded behind the two lightly, their footsteps measured and strong. Sakura had chosen to bring them with just in case. There were still a lot of shinobi in Konoha that resented the elder Uchiha, and many of them wouldn't hesitate to kill him if ordered. Not that they could, Sakura thought to herself. However, this procedure would leave both her and Itachi completely drained of chakra, and it wouldn't hurt to have two extra sets of eyes guarding them. Additionally, Sakura suspected that Root may be present, and their goals were simple. Danzou did whatever he saw best in Konoha's interest. Like murdering an entire clan of people, Sakura thought bitterly.

As she got closer to the cottage, she began to flare her chakra signature a bit, just enough to inform whoever was at the cottage of their presence. A familiar chakra flickered back. It was Naruto's. Sakura's jaw clenched and heart tightened at the feeling. It had been way too long since she'd last even caught a glimpse of her best friend's face. Her gaze shifted apprehensively up to Itachi and then to Kisame and Deidara behind her. Apparently Tsunade was putting quite a bit of faith in the deal of unsteady, and very temporary, peace between the two groups.

As if understanding her apprehension, Itachi said quietly, "We will not attempt to take the kyuubi…tonight."

There was an unspoken promise that followed his sentence. The promise that they would be back for him, but Sakura couldn't help but feel a small bit of relief from his declaration.

Sakura let out an audible sigh of respite, her shoulders slumping as some of the tension that had built up within her released. They were getting fairly close to the cottage, so Sakura pulled off her Akatsuki cloak. When her three companions glanced at her questioningly, she almost laughed out loud.

"Don't think they'll take too kindly to me showing up in one of these, ne?" Sakura said with a low chuckle. She folded the cloak swiftly, throwing it at Deidara who shoved it in his back pack who scowled at her.

As they rounded one more clump of trees, Sakura felt a shift in the air. It was minute, almost invisible. But there was only an open field in front of them when there should have been a small, two room shack that looked as if were about to collapse at any moment. Slowly, she pressed a glowing green finger to her head. Itachi was doing the same, years of training in Konoha giving him the movements as if it was second nature. Both Deidara and Kisame looked confused, but Sakura moved to them quickly, pressing an index finger to each other their foreheads.

The dilapidated hut came into view, along with ten Konoha ANBU, Ino – her bright blue eyes showing with unshed tears at seeing her best friend for the first time in four months, the Hokage, Shizune, Kakashi, and a very disgruntled looking Uchiha Sasuke. Deidara's and Kisame's eyes widened since they had not sensed the genjutsu that had been cast over the area, but Sakura and Itachi just shared knowing looking.

Sakura turned back to face the group of Leaf shinobi standing in front of her. She recognized a lot of the masks indicating the ninja behind them – Genma, Sai, Yamato, Neji, Hinata, Shino, Lee, Tenten, and Shikamaru were all collected around the Hokage and Sasuke. However it was the misplaced mask of a toad that drew Sakura's attention.

Her heart burst with pride, sadness, longing, excitement, and so many more emotions when she saw the sunshine blond hair behind the mask. The ANBU pushed the mask up as a smiling mouth, imprinted whiskers, and finally shining cerulean eyes came into view. Sakura's feet were carrying her before she realized what was happening. Naruto was doing the same, pushing past Neji and Shikamaru before he broke out in a full scale run. They met somewhere in the middle of the clearing, his arms clamping around her shoulders and her hands dug into his back, clinging to him as if it were the last time she would see him.

That's when the tears broke free from her eyes. He hugged her tight, knowing that she didn't like it when people saw her cry. Sobs wracked through her body as she trembled fiercely in Naruto's arms. His black cloak was surely soaked through by now.

"I-I-I m-m-m-missed y-you so m-much," she sobbed quietly into his chest as a hiccup popped from her mouth. This entire time, all these months, she had been repressing just this. She knew that if she allowed herself to feel this longing pain that was burrowed deep within her, she would have lost her resolve to stay with the Akatsuki long ago. Naruto just squeezed tighter, his lips placing light kisses on the top of her head as his large hands ran through her pink hair. When had he gotten so tall?

A satisfied sigh escaped Naruto's lips as he squeezed her tight one more time. He said, loud enough for everyone to hear, "I missed you too, Sakura-chan. Now let's go fix up the teme so we can be a family again. Okay?"

She nodded weakly and pulled out of his embrace, wiping her tears on his cloak as she did so. Her eyes went to Sasuke, who was glaring at his stoic older brother with more hatred that she thought possible – it was palpable, radiating off of him in waves of displeasure. She turned her gaze to the ever-impassive Itachi, who flashed his eyes at her for the briefest of moments, and she swears that she could see the concern that flashed through them even though his gaze returned to his brother almost instantly.

Sakura grinned at him in response, and then grinned at Sasuke. "Hey, Sasuke, maybe you shouldn't use your laser vision to blow your brother's head up until after he helps save your life," she taunted. It was then that Sasuke turned his withering stare at her, but it softened the moment his eyes left his brother.

Almost everyone broke out into a nervous chuckle, thankful that some of the tension eased between the two groups. Sakura went up to the other shinobi and greeted them all with a hug, even Neji who buried his masked face into her hair. Ino gripped her so tightly that Shikamaru had to pry her off of Sakura with both hands. Lee then bound up to her, clasping her in a hug so tight that she was sure her ribs had broken, and yelled something about the her youthfulness and insisted on taking her on a date.

"It has been so long since I've seen you, my spring flower! You must accompany me on a date!" he exclaimed.

That's when Deidara and Kisame broke out into such raucous laughter that every person stopped and stared at them in awe at the fact that the Akatsuki could laugh. They seemed to be under the impression that because they were Akatsuki, they were less than human. They were demons sent from hell, and therefore, they could not laugh. However, it wasn't long for Naruto to join in the laughter, bringing Shizune, Tenten, Tsunade, Kakashi, Ino, and several of the other shinobi along with him. When Sakura turned a beaming grin to Itachi, she found him glaring holes in the back of Lee's head. Her smile got just a little larger as Itachi noticed her looking at him and quickly shifted his gaze. Was that jealousy she had sensed there? Lee, of all people…he decides he's going to be jealous of Lee?

Sakura laughed a little with them before she turned a serious gaze towards Tsunade, who cleared her throat. The laughter died down instantly within the group of shinobi, all eyes focusing on Tsunade.

"Kakashi, Naruto, Ino, Shizune, Shikamaru, Sakura, and I, along with Itachi will be the only ones allowed in the cottage while the procedure is taking place. You will all get along," Tsunade ordered clearly as she motioned to the other shinobi, including Deidara and Kisame. The shinobi from Konoha nodded and murmured their assent as they took positions around the hut to guard it.

Sakura led her group into the room, and cleared her throat lightly, her hands shaking with nervousness. This would be one hell of a procedure. Everybody, including Itachi, looked at her expectantly, waiting for their instructions. Sakura made eye contact with each person in the room. Finally, her eyes landed on Tsunade who was beaming with so much pride that Sakura could feel herself choking on it. It almost made her want to blush.

"Alright, Shikamaru we'll need you to use your shadow possession technique to hold Sasuke in place because he can't move during this procedure or I'll break concentration. Ino will be using her mind transfer jutsu at the end of the operation to make sure that all of Orochimaru's consciousness is removed from Sasuke. Itachi, you and I will be the ones entering his consciousness, but I'm going to be mostly guiding you through the procedure and making sure that Orochimaru is eradicated. Naruto and Kakashi are here in case something goes wrong – like if Sasuke's curse seal activates or if Orochimaru takes over. Shizune and Tsunade will be monitoring from a medical stand point since this procedure can be both physically and mentally straining," Sakura explained. Everyone nodded their heads, understanding their roles.

Sasuke sat down on a chair that Sakura had brought from the base. Sakura sat just in front of him so she could reach his head. Ino and Itachi sat slightly behind her, flanking her sides. "Each of you put a hand on one of my shoulders," Sakura commanded. Her voice sounded much more confident than she felt, but she needed to be strong right now. The two shinobi flanking her side did at they were told. Ino's grip was firm, yet quivering, telling Sakura that she was nervous. Itachi's hand was warm and strong, but she didn't need to feel him quiver to know that he was nervous.

Her hands went up and circled Sasuke's head. Her jade eyes went up to Kakashi and Naruto, who were on either side of Sasuke. Finally, her eyes found Sasuke's, and she gave him the smallest smile of encouragement as his crimson orbs closed.

"Let's do this."

X

Outside, everybody had been silent for several hours. Morning was well underway, and Deidara calculated that the steady flow of both Sakura's and Itachi's chakra had been emitting from the small hut for about three hours now. He was unsure of how long this was supposed to take, but he was bored. About an hour ago, the usually tightly-regimented Konoha ANBU had lost all sense of formality.

Pulling their masks off, they began to talk lazily among themselves, joking and laughing as if two members of the Akatsuki weren't in their midst. It must have been Sakura's attitude towards Kisame and Deidara. Deidara knew for a fact that it was easier to trust people with Sakura around. If she wasn't apprehensive about a person, then nobody else was. It seemed to be the way with the Konoha shinobi as well since they were now regarding Kisame and Deidara with little more than slight wariness now.

Deidara huffed. They were the Akatsuki, for crying out loud! They should be shaking in their stupid shinobi sandals! Perhaps laughing at Sakura when the strange boy with the bowl cut begged her for a date didn't help either, he supposed. Kisame was snoring, leaning against the tree next to him. He didn't seem to have too many reservations about getting comfortable in front of the Leaf-nin either if he was willing to fall asleep.

Deidara rolled his eyes and glanced up in the tree above him. One of the men who had brought Sakura's scrolls was up there, propped up on a branch. It took a few moments for Deidara to register the sketch pad in the boy's hands. Now his interest was officially peaked. Standing up and brushing the dirt off that had accumulated on his pants, he jumped into the tree on a branch adjacent to the one that the shinobi was sitting on.

Sai barely turned to look at him, his eyes fixed on the drawing in his hands as his charcoal spread lightly over the paper.

"You're Deidara," he said evenly, a small, yet disturbingly fake smile gracing his features. "I'm Sai."

"I know, yeah," Deidara replied instantly. Sai finally turned to look up at him, his features slightly confused. "Sakura talked about you," he explained further. A fond smile crossed Sai's lips, and Deidara saw emotion in his inky black orbs for the first time. When Sai didn't respond, Deidara continued, "She said you're an amazing artist. She would bring you up when I talked about art a lot, yeah. She said that she thought you had the perfect view on art, yeah, but she wouldn't tell me what it was."

Sai gave looked at him once more before returning his attention back to the charcoal drawing in front of him. His hands moved with practiced ease over the surface of the white paper. "Ugly and I spent a lot of time speaking of art when we began my behavior therapy. Art was one of the few subjects that she said I felt emotions towards, so we spent many hours discussing the subject. We even talked about you and your former partner, Sasori, and your individual views on art. You believe in art at the moment, and Sasori believed in art that lasted forever. I believe in capturing an explosive moment – whether it be physically or emotionally important – on paper, and keeping it forever. That is my view on art," he supplied evenly.

Kisame had woken up and jumped into the tree by Deidara just in time to see Deidara's jaw drop, his mouth forming an 'o', and looking as if his head just exploded. Finally, after sputtering a bit, trying to grasp what this particular person's view of art was, he asked, "What're you drawing now, yeah?"

Sai held up the photo and Kisame nearly fell of the tree in shock. On the paper, in black and white, was a rendition of Itachi. Except it wasn't the impassive, empathetic Uchiha that they knew; instead, on the paper, was a portrait of Itachi that was so lifelike, Kisame felt the need to touch it to make sure it wasn't Itachi himself. The entire picture was an amazing rendition, down to the small frown that plastered the Uchiha's features to the way he held his head.

However, Kisame and Deidara were staring at the look that Sai had captured in the Uchiha's eyes. They were soft, caring, and affectionate, even behind the tomoe of the Sharingan. The way his head was tilted slightly made it look as if the Itachi in the drawing was looking at a fine piece of art, a precious item. How, Deidara wondered, could anybody be so talented at capturing emotions in somebodies eyes, only using charcoal?

"Say…Sai-san…when did you see Itachi looking like this?" Kisame finally asked after a few moments of studying the piece. Deidara just seemed lost for words, his blue orbs the shape of plates, looking as if they were about to burst from their sockets.

"I saw the traitor looking like this when he glanced at Ugly. It was…emotionally explosive…so I decided to draw it before I forgot what it looked like. You see, I wish to find out what emotion this is in his eyes because I can't place it. I don't think I've ever read about such a look, but it makes my stomach churn and I can't decide if it's uncomfortable," Sai explained. Deidara and Kisame were slightly confused, but Itachi had explained ANBU Root and their emotionally-draining ways, so they kept their questions to themselves. "I was planning on asking the Uchiha traitor…the older one…when he finished with his defector younger brother."

Deidara just shook his head while Kisame snorted. After convincing Sai not to ask Itachi that, to which they received several questions as to why he shouldn't, they jumped back down to the forest floor.

Kisame let out a hearty laugh. In a whisper that only Deidara could hear, he asked with another laugh, "You could recognize that emotion in Itachi's eyes, couldn't you Deidara?"

"Yeah," Deidara replied evenly, his face cracking in a smile. "Itachi-kun is in love."

X

Several hours later, just past three in the afternoon, the door to the small hut opened with the shinobi that had been present stumbling out. Every one of them looked tired and overwhelmed with what must have been an incredibly emotional experience. Kakashi helped throw an unconscious Sasuke over Naruto's back.

He looked at Sakura who was swaying warily in her chair, looking as if she might vomit. "Sakura?" he called.

Her half-lidded eyes snapped open and she looked around. Quickly realizing that she and Kakashi were the only ones in the room, she jumped up. However, her legs were like jello and she swayed lightly. "I'm fine," she said, her voice quivering.

The whole ordeal had been painfully emotional. Forcing Orochimaru out of Sasuke's conscious and destroying him was more difficult than in sounded in theory, and it sounded plenty challenging. Itachi had done most of the work. Once, about halfway through, Sasuke had lost control and tried to kill Sakura. Naruto and Kakashi had restrained him, getting his curse seal to recede before Sakura continued.

Overall, it had been eight hours of hell. But it was over. Orochimaru was dead, gone, completely. Tsunade had also announced, when the procedure had been completed, that two ANBU squads were sent out to kill Kabuto, and they succeeded. Therefore, the threat of Orochimaru and his protégé was officially quelled.

Kakashi slung one of Sakura's arms over his tall shoulder and lifted her under her knees so he was carrying her body as if it were a feather. When the exited the cabin, Sakura had to bury her face into his chest because the sun was so bright despite the cool winter chill.

"You look like hell, yeah," Deidara exclaimed, jumping in front of Kakashi and Sakura the moment they were outside the cabin. Sakura stuck a lazy tongue out at him. Deidara held his arms out to Sakura. "I'm going to carry you ho-" he stopped, a sad look adorning his features suddenly. It was gone before anybody could register what he was saying, and he continued, "Back to the base, yeah."

Kakashi's grip around her tightened, but Sakura pat his arms lightly. "It's okay, Kakashi-sensei. I'll see you tomorrow," Sakura assured. Kakashi tentatively shifted Sakura into Deidara's hold, and ruffled her head lovingly.

After several emotional goodbyes, Sakura assuring everybody that she would see them the following day, and a few more tears, the two groups departed. Deidara carried Sakura on his back the entire way, while Itachi was able to walk by himself. However, every few minutes he would stumble and Kisame would appear by his side to make sure he wouldn't fall. When they arrived back home, Deidara dropped an emotionally and physically exhausted Sakura into her bed.

Itachi retired to his room to sleep as well. Sakura couldn't think about what would happen tomorrow. A mix of emotions pulled so tightly within her, in so many different directions, that she felt as if her entire person was tearing in two. Pulling herself into the fetal position, she allowed her mind to blank as unconsciousness from chakra-exhaustion overcame her.

Several hours later, her eyes peeled open. She wasn't nearly done sleeping yet, but a knock on her door caused her head to turn. Itachi stood there, his body slumped dejectedly, dark circles under his eyes. His stress lines were deeper, longer, and blunter. His frizzled hair and wary look, coupled with his gloomy posture, made him look twenty years older than he really was.

"Itachi?" she asked warily. Pulling herself up so she was propped on her hands, she got a better look at him, and the look in his dark onyx orbs took her breath away. His face was desperate, his eyes were desperate, and it made her shiver. And then something happened that she had never expected, anticipated, or fathomed happening in her entire life. Uchiha Itachi pleaded. "Don't go," he murmured just loud enough so Sakura could hear.

"Please," he stated again, a little louder this time, his despondency becoming a little more palpable and real.

"Don't go."

AN: Alright, there is that chapter. I think we're looking at 4ish more content chapters and then an epilogue. The epilogue, by the way, is almost completely written. I was feeling angsty and felt the need to write it, so that's mostly finished.

I had some real trouble writing the scene where they were actually inside Sasuke's head, fighting Orochimaru, so I decided to forgo it. The best I got from trying to put that scene to print was second-rate at best, and I didn't want to put something in there that was slightly confused, rushed, and poorly written. So I made the decision to take it out and lightly describe it instead. Perhaps some epiphany will come to me and I'll be able to add it in later.

Alright, for anybody who reads my other stories, you can expect a chapter for the First time by Saturday night, and a chapter for In Order to Heal by Sunday. That's saying that I write on schedule. However, I very rarely to anything to schedule so don't set the bar too high. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Please review! They make me happy!