Hello lovelies!

How are you all? I am still thinking about changing the summary to this story, and right now I have 2 votes for changing and 1 against. Please help me decide, if you wondering what it's going to be read this:

Why do we always assume that all crows are black? What if we saw that single, white one? When Sakura goes to Konoha for the exams, she triggers the chain of unfortunate events leading to pain, betrayal and confusion.

But is that it?

What do you think?

Oh, another thing. I know that I've done this before, but how about a goal?

LET'S GET 100 REVIEWS!

The 100th person to review gets a one-shot with any length, any pairing.

PLEASE HELP!

~::~

It's been a while since Sakura'd met up with Hinata. When she went back to the hotel room she shared with Umi, she saw one of Itachi's black crows sitting on the desk.

She hurried over to it and plucked out the letter.
It read:

Sakura-san,
Pein is adding another part to your mission; he wants you to collect as much information on the Kyuubi and Shukaku as possible. Everything. He's growing obsessed with his plan, wants it all completed immediately. If you want to keep your neck out of trouble you better hurry up.

Then there was another part of the letter, on a separate piece of paper. She smiled. It was coded.

PEANUT EAGLE INSTANT NEST IMPOSSIBLE STRAY GOBLET ERNEST TRAY TRACK ISLE NOBLE GIG STAY UNDER SUNCREAM PICKLE INSIDE CUTE IRRITATING OUT UMBRELLA SAUSAGE. HOST EAT LIGHTNING PLEASE.

To most others, it would have looked like total gibberish. To Sakura, however, it wasn't. It was a code she and Itachi used when they didn't want Pein to find out what they're writing.

So she read it again, using a de-coder this time.

PEANUT EAGLE INSTANT NEST IMPOSSIBLE STRAY GOBLET ERNEST TRAY TRACK ISLE NOBLE GIG STAY UNDER SUNCREAM PICKLE INSIDE CUTE IRRITATING OUT UMBRELLA SAUSAGE. HOST EAT LIGHTNING PLEASE.

PEIN IS GETTING SUSPICIOUS. HELP.

"Fuck, fuck, fuckety fuck!"

"Sakura-chan, are you all right?"

Sakura almost jumped out of her skin.

Calm yourself… It's only Umi.

"I'm fine, Umi-chan… Just reading."

"If you say so."

Sakura sighed, once again thanking the heavens for having an absolutely clueless teammate.

She jumped on the bed and composed a reply for Pein, writing in all the boring details she'd found out when she went spying for the Kyuubi, making a point of writing it as convincing as she could.

Then, she wrote back to Itachi.

Problema Risolto.

It was Italian, something Itachi found necessary to teach her. How he knew Italian, she would never know.

The two words she'd written were the simplest way to tell Itachi what was going on.

Problem Solved.

What she didn't realise was that it was only the beginning of her problems…

~::~

"Sakura, Hinata, you've been nothing but a pleasure to teach. However, I'm afraid that this is the last time we meet up. The final phase of the exam is in a week's time and I need both of you on your best abilities." Kurenai stated in a calm voice.

Both girls had tears in their eyes. Sakura, because she never thought she'd grow so emotionally attached to anyone in just one month, and Hinata because her best, and only friend was leaving, and there was a high possibility that the next time they see each other they would be trying to kill one another.

But that was the way. Their only possible destiny.

"S-Sakura-chan… Don't go. Stay in Konoha. They'll understand."

By 'they' she was referring to the Akatsuki.

Sakura laughed humourlessly. "They'll understand? You're not serious, Hinata-chan, are you? You don't actually think I could run away from Akatsuki under excuse of finding freedom?"

"But that's what all this is about, isn't it? All that talk of peace and freedom your Father talks about?"

Another dry laugh. "That's talking about the world, Hinata. Not every single person who lives on it. Plus, the only freedom shinobi will ever get is the freedom of Death."

Hinata cringed. "Sakura…"

Sakura sighed. "You won't be able to talk me out of this, Hinata-chan. I have a goal I need to accomplish, and an innocent life to save."

Hinata looked up. "Itachi?"

The rosette nodded. After she'd told Hinata about her family, she also spilled everything she'd planned with Itachi, his illness, his death, his rebellion, his innocence.

"I need to give him his medication. I only made enough for a month."

The Hyuuga girl only nodded.

"Just… when you do leave… Don't die."

Sakura smiled slightly and pulled her friend in for a hug.

"I won't die, Hina-chan. I refuse to die before I accomplish my goal." She smirked. "Plus, I have yet to kick your cousin's ass."

~::~

Sakura smiled. It was easy to keep a calm façade in front of Hinata. Or rather, she had to make it easy, otherwise the girl would start crying her eyes out.

Suddenly, the rosette stopped. She was finally able to place a name on the feeling which was gnawing at the pit of her stomach for so long.

Guilt.

But why would she feel guilty? It's not like she lied to Hinata, or anything. She was rather honest.

That's when she heard loud laughter echo around the village.

"Chouji, why do you have to always stuff your face like that? It's unattractive!"

Shit.

She knew that voice.

So was that why she was so guilty? For almost killing an innocent girl because she'd insulted her village?

Of course.

Only someone as fucked-up as her could feel guilty about something like that.

But what to do now? Sakura was sure that 'just an apology' wouldn't work.

What then?

Buy her forgiveness. Duh.

Huh?

Buy her something she likes, you dolt.

But what?

Ne, I don't know… Nail Vanish maybe?

No need to be sarcastic, bitch.

I was serious.

Oh. Of course!

Goddamnit. You're really stupid.

Sakura ignored her Inner and sprinted off in the direction of the closest beauty shop.

This is stupid.

Itachi wanted you to gather allies, didn't he? So shut up and do the work.

Kill joy.

I can kill you as well if you don't stop complaining.

Whatever.

~::~

Sakura fidgeted slightly. She never had to apologise like that to someone before.

Nervous?

You wish.

Irritated by her Inner's teasing, Sakura straightened up and decided to get this over with. Sigh. She was never good with apologising.

You. Shut it. You'll do great.

Uh-huh…

Grrr…. Chin up in the air, back straight. Emit confidence. Not fear.

…

Fuck this! You floored her once already, didn't you? If things get out of hand you'll just do it again, alright?

Fine.

Fine.

I'm going.

Do your worst.

~::~

"Shikamaru? Shikamaru! What's wrong?" Ino was waving her hand in front of the Nara's face.

The boy in question wasn't listening at all. He was staring at something over Ino's shoulder.

A moment later Asuma noticed as well. He slid just slightly to the left, so he was looking directly over Ino's shoulder.

"Asuma-sensei? What's up?"

"Ino. Turn around."

The blonde did as told and froze.

The girl who she'd been dreading for the past three weeks was slowly walking towards her. Eyes set on her.

Ino whimpered quietely, but the rosette just kept on advancing, not slow, not fast either. As if she had all the time in the world.

But Asuma noticed the slight stiffness of her shoulders and her pinkie finger was twitching uncontrollably. He slid slightly in front of Ino, showing the girl that she was not wanted there.

Sakura kept on walking. She stopped when she was right in front of Ino, but didn't speak until Ino met her eyes.

Blue on green.

Then-

"I'm sorry."

Ino's eyes widened. For a moment she just stared at Sakura like a fish out of water.

"What?"

Sakura took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." Her eyes trailed over to the bandage still wrapped around Ino's cheek and the faint bruises covering her neck. She winced. "I… I lost control. I overdid it. I only meant to immobilise you slightly, and not almost kill you. I was just so… No. There aren't any excuses. I almost killed someone who'd never done anything to me." Sakura hung her head. "I'm sorry… Please forgive me."

The whole Team 10 stared at the girl, dumbfounded.

Asuma didn't understand her. Even if she did kill Ino, she would've been excused. The Chunin Exams are, after all, a test of life and death. Why apologise for something she didn't do?

Shikamaru was confused. All of his speculations about the girl being some secret, emotionless assassin crumbled into nothingness. The girl did have feelings; she just masked them very well.

Chouji… He didn't mind. The rosette didn't look like someone who would eat his chips. Which was good.

Ino… Ino was a completely different story. She was mixed between confusion, respect, anger and more confusion. Why did the girl apologise? She seemed so ruthless three weeks ago, but now she looked ready to cry.

"Why?" the question was out before Shikamaru could stop it.

Sakura's eyes lifted up to look at him.

"Why what?"

"Why apologise? She's alive, isn't she? Plus, apologising for something you didn't do is troublesome."

Sakura laughed humourlessly. "Troublesome? Oh boy, that's funny." She said, "Well, I apologise, because, unlike you Mr. Lazyass, I don't like making enemies with people who didn't do anything wrong."

Ino giggled. "What's that in your hand?" she asked, pointing to the box which was still held tightly in Sakura's hand.

"Hm? Oh that. Well, it's for you actually." The rosette said handing Ino the box. "Thought you might like it."

Ino tore at the paper impatiently and then her eyes widened. "Oh my gosh!" she squealed. "How did you get this? I wanted for so long but my mum always said it's too expensive!"

Sakura smirked. "~Not going to tell you…" she said in a sing-a-song voice.

Ino pouted. "Hmpf, fine! But you have to go shopping with me!"

Sakura paled. "Not shopping! Please!"

This time it was Ino who went pale. "You don't like shopping?"

"No."

Ino grinned, "Even better! I can take you around Konoha and convince you that shopping is the most wonderful thing in the world!"

The rosette looked around and saw that there was no way to get out of that.

"Fine, but I'm taking Mr. Lazyass with me!"

"Yay! Follow me then!"

Shikamaru turned his incredulous stare towards Sakura. "Why me?"

"Because you're her teammate, and thus the only person who knows how to switch off and ignore her infuriating blubbering."

Shikamaru smirked, "Oh, I know how to do that, alright."

~::~

Done! Don't know if I'm satisfied with this chapter, or not. Not much happens, but it's kind of necessary to have filler chapters from time to time.

Yayness!