Chapter 5: Possibly Maybe

-X-

"We couldn't find the body, Taichou," Sai said blandly. "Apparently they took it away."

"The monk said they were collecting Chiriku-sama's head for a bounty," Yamato added. "This complies with the Modus Operandi of that Waterfall nukenin we got briefed about a while ago."

"Yes, indeed," Itachi nodded his acquiescence. "And it seems that the other one has a taste for blood," he added, looking at the pink-haired medic that was examining one of the monk's mangled corpses, waiting for the survivor to wake up again. It was past sunset already, and while Sasuke built up a bonfire next to the stairs and Naruto went about preparing dinner with Shisui, Kakashi and Sakura went to check on the other monks that fell under the onslaught of those two criminals.

Out of the sudden, he saw Sakura trip with her own feet and fall to her knees. Kakashi walked up to her, extending a hand.

"You OK, Sakura?"

"Yes..." she whispered. "I'm just tired."

"You shouldn't have pulled that stunt race, you know," he said lowly. "Your chakra reserves are more precious than all of ours. Don't be so hard on yourself."

She smiled dryly. "My stamina is not up for discussion, Kakashi-sensei," she said offhandedly. "Besides, it was the healing that took a lot of my chakra anyway."

"Go lay down," he ordered her as she stood. "I'll finish here."

"But--"

"No buts, Sakura. Go."

She pressed her lips together and nodded curtly, obeying her team leader. As she walked towards the little camp, the ANBU Team noticed how her legs were trembling under her light weight, as Kakashi went to confer with the other masked ninjas.

"We'll need another two days to finish up the investigation," he said in his lazy tone, turning his head to watch Sakura being engulfed in an embrace from their blond teammate and steering her to the bedroll.

"We cannot afford to lose any more time," Itachi answered smoothly, detailing how she growled irritably at Naruto and punched him in the arm, chiding him about his bad manners. "We've sent one of Tiger's ink birds with a request for the Hokage to send another team to this location. They should be here by tomorrow past noon."

"Good thinking, Weasel-taichou," Kakashi nodded, feeling a bit impressed by Itachi's quickness in handling the matter. "I'll speak with my team to arrange watch shifts."

"Let the medic rest, Kakashi-san" the Uchiha Heir added politely. "She's out of chakra. We can manage with my team as well."

"I figured that, Weasel-taichou," Kakashi replied good-humoredly with a guarded eye crease. "Thank you for understanding."

Shisui, behind his mask, lifted a puzzled eyebrow at his cousin. 'What's up with him?' he mused inwardly.

-X-

Sakura woke up minutes before sunrise, the sky over the camp red with dawn colors. Yawning and stretching like a cat, she opened her eyes to see that Shisui was the only one sitting straight, keeping watch over the slumbering shinobi.

"Ohayo, Sakura-san," he greeted her politely in a low whisper. She nodded with a sleepy smile before swiveling her head to survey her patient, who was asleep next to the embers that remained from the bonfire.

"Ohayo, Shis- er... Hawk-san," she responded, rising to her knees and crawling to the monk's form. "No one awoke me for the watch shifts," she added absentmindedly, gathering a little bit of chakra to check on her patient. "No fever. Temperature about normal... chakra pathways are flowing normally. No inner injuries and no other disruptions that I can see."

"He's out of danger, then?" Shisui asked softly. She nodded with a satisfied smile.

"Aa, he's healthy enough. Maybe we can escort him back to Konoha before going to the Daimyo's Palace..."

"I'm afraid we won't, Haruno-san," Yamato's masked voice broke from his cloaked form on his bedroll. "We need to move out as soon as possible."

"I understand," she said with a frown. "I almost wanted to lead him to the hospital... but I'm sure he can get back to the village on his own."

"A team will arrive soon to retrieve him," Itachi's voice sounded a bit rough but still with that hint of cold politeness that made her wince internally. "We will move out shortly."

"Hai," she answered, knowing when to admit defeat. They had a mission to start and accomplish, after all. Naruto woke up next and started the usual round of yawning and whining, lightening the tense atmosphere among them. Kakashi and Sasuke rose and soon everyone was on their feet.

Approaching to her aware patient, Sakura smiled slightly. "Souryo-sama, we have to go... but soon you'll be retrieved by other Konoha-nins. Please wait for them."

"I will, medic-san," the monk bowed his head. "I will pray to the Gods for your success in your mission. I am most grateful for your thoughtful healing."

"It is my way of the ninja," she commented with a proud smile. "Be well, Souryo-sama."

The bald monk nodded. "May the Gods look upon you all. Thank you."

Slipping her gloves on and the hood covering the pink tresses, Team Seven started their trek to Fire City, while Team Alpha waited for the team from the village.

-X-

"Hey, Naruto, why did no one wake me up for watch?" asked Sakura after a long while of silence. The blond ninja blinked his azure orbs and glanced briefly to Kakashi, who was behind them.

"You needed rest, Sakura," observed Kakashi lazily. "You were out of chakra."

"Tch."

"You drained yourself with the race," Sasuke added scathingly. "If a fight broke in the Temple you wouldn't be able to defend yourself."

Sakura couldn't believe her ears. "You are just sore because I won the race and now you have to apologize to me!"

The young Uchiha threw a cold glare at her over his shoulder. "I do not have to apologize for anything."

The pink-haired medic's fists clenched in anger but she didn't respond to his taunt. She knew perfectly well what he was doing: baiting her just like he did with Naruto. Well, she was going to react the opposite he was accustomed to see from their blond teammate.

"Very well, Sasuke," she said calmly. He turned his head one more time, but she had pulled her hood over her eyes, making impossible to discern where she was looking.

"Sakura-chan, are you angry with Sasuke-teme?" Naruto came to her side. "Don't mind him; he's just upset because you won that race fair and square... and he definitely needs to apologize for being such a moron to you!"

"The bet was for the three of us, dobe," Sasuke sneered at the front of their group. Naruto's eyes widened and stared at Sakura, pouting slightly.

"Really, Sakura-chan? Do you really think we are a bunch of morons?"

"No, Naruto," she caught his meaning hastily. "Kakashi-sensei is anything but a moron, he's just the most apathetic person I've ever met," Sakura said, glancing at her back where the alluded Copy-Ninja waved and offered a cheerful eye crease. "You, on the other hand, are not a moron either. You are an idiot, but not a moron."

"Oi!"

"And you're also my best friend," Sakura completed, not paying heed to Naruto's protest. "I can't be friends with a moron, now can I?"

"I don't know, Sakura-chan... you dated Neji!"

She let out an incredulous laugh. "He's not a moron, Naruto! He happens to be the prodigy of the Hyuuga Clan! How can he be a prodigy if he's not a genius?"

Sasuke muttered something in front of them but she didn't hear. Naruto, however, did.

"Teme! Neji might be a pain in the ass but he's quite strong!"

"And he's also an ANBU Op," completed Sakura, feeling suddenly sadistic and twisting the jab. "My best guess is that he will be Captain soon enough... so he would be on par with another prodigy."

Predictably, the spiky-haired ninja tensed his shoulders and said nothing.

'Serves you right, Sasuke-kun,' her Inner personality voiced raucously and Sakura couldn't agree more with her. She felt undermined and pretty much scorned at the Uchiha right now to see how rigid with irritation he was. She had deliberately left him out of her explanation, because she wanted him to know how upset she was with him... and apparently, he had noticed.

But then, she saw Sasuke shaking his head minutely and slipping into mission-mode again.

Stupid Uchiha's, she thought. She just couldn't believe how arrogant that family was. The only one that was salvageable was Shisui, but even him had a prickly streak somewhere, she was completely sure about that. He could be really nice, but a bastard when the occasion was at hand.

She was not going to think about Sasuke's older brother. She wasn't. He was just an arrogant, stupid bastard that needed to hear a piece of her mind. He was just an idiot that needed some lessons in society. He was--

Gah.

'He's just an idiot that happens to be way more attractive than Sasuke-kun!' her mental roommate cheered lewdly. Coughing lightly and pummeling Inner Sakura to the deep recesses of her mind, she forced the furious blush to recede from her face.

-X-

The Daimyo's Palace was beyond the river, Sakura remembered from the last time she and her team had gone to Fire City. They had made a halt in their trek to gather their wits before going to the Daimyo.

"Naruto, remember the last time we were there," Kakashi was saying. "Despite how nice Ieyasu-sama was to you this time he won't take any joke lightly."

"His first son is dead," Sasuke said. "We need to behave accordingly."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it," the blond replied, annoyed.

"What about the Alpha Team? Do we wait for them?"

"No need, Sakura," Kakashi said in a bored tone. "They are already here."

Sakura snapped her eyes to the trees, making a brown cloak among the foliage. She shook her head, smiling wanly. Damn ANBU.

As they made their way over the river bank and the water, the four shinobi dropped from the branches and joined the others in their run towards the Daimyo's home.

The Palace was a huge structure that was meant to intimidate. And most of the visitors were intimidated indeed when seeing such building meant to show off how powerful the leader of the Fire Country was.

Fire City was also another design meant to intimidate. This defeated the purpose of Konoha, Sakura thought, because the lines and streets were devised for functionality rather than secluding all the businesses in their own zone. The bakers, the artisans, even the oirans had a special district, making difficult for people to hide their private business from prying eyes.

It was so much different from Konoha, where everyone was mingled except for the Ninja Clans. Ichiraku was a ramen stand that was flanked by an expensive kimono shop for ladies of the Leaf high society and a book store. It was the villagers' way, to build their business where they pleased and where they felt the outcome will be benefiting for them.

Sakura smiled faintly under her cloak. Four green figures and four brown ones made their way to the red and yellow painted Palace, taking in the tall towers and how the walls seemed to ban all prying gazes from its private quarters.

There was, however, a small contingent of soldiers in red armor that Sakura didn't remember being there the last time she was there. Staying in the back, she watched Kakashi and one of the ANBU – the Eagle operative – talking with the commander of the red-clad soldiers. Curious enough, most of the soldiers were wearing white paint on their faces, as well as a black band on their arms.

Suddenly, it became clear. They were mourning.

Sakura let out a deep sigh. This mission would be very difficult for her, she knew that already. But watching the gate's soldiers with those blatant symbols of the Daimyo's loss was, to say the least, heartbreaking.

She watched how Kakashi and Yamato got approving nods from the soldier's commanders. Soon enough, the eight shinobi were inside the Palace, walking towards a meeting with the Lord of their Country.

The Daimyo's study was a place Sakura never got the opportunity to enter in their past mission, but she forgot to look at her surroundings when she took in the pitiful state of the Fire Country's Lord. Kasai Ieyasu didn't look like the magnificent man that received Team Seven back in the day. His hair was all white now, and his eyes were totally sunk in their sockets. A myriad of wrinkles were sprayed on his once regal face, leaving him with the appearance of a nonagenarian man.

But his eyes were sharp and haunted; Sakura noted when the Daimyo looked up from a scroll when the ninja entered the room. "Hoods and masks out," he ordered sternly and without preamble.

The ANBU looked at one of them while the other shinobi pulled their green hoods from their heads obediently.

"My Lord," Kakashi began, "ANBU regulations keep ninja from showing--"

"I am perfectly aware of those regulations, Hatake. I was the one who made them legal. Thank Kami I don't force you to remove that mask of yours. Now, I want to see your faces or you are out of this commission faster than lightning strikes a tree."

The man in the weasel mask nodded to his team. Soon, the faces of the ANBU team were displayed for the Daimyo and everyone in the room to see.

The Fire Lord was silent for a moment. "Good. Three Uchiha, the infamous Copy Ninja and also the strongest medic-nin of all Fire Country. I see Tsunade was not kidding when she wrote me about sending me her best operatives."

Poking lightly Naruto's side, Sakura and her Team kneeled in front of the Daimyo. "We are here to help you, Kasai-sama," Kakashi said serious but politely. Sakura noted that the other men had kneeled as well.

"I am glad you are," continued the old Lord. "I take you have been briefed with all the factors."

This was not a question but a statement. How different he acted from the man they've met long time ago, Sakura pondered as the ANBU Captain took permission to speak.

"The Hokage informed us of all the happenings within the Fire Palace, My Lord. We are at your service. We assure you that we are going to resolve this matter in no time."

Itachi's confident tone brought a little calm to the pink-haired medic's inner distress. This was a dangerous mission; if they failed Konoha might as well kiss good-bye to their budget, and this was not an acceptable destiny for her beloved village.

"I am sure we can collect clues from your servants and the scene," Itachi was saying softly. A sudden chill went down Sakura's spine when the Daimyo's eyes flashed with despair. Her heart ached for the man's pain, making her bite her lower lip in worry.

This, however, didn't go unnoticed by the Daimyo himself. His sharp grey eyes slid from Itachi's to her emerald orbs as if they were peering into her very soul.

"Haruno," he spoke next, with a strained, tired voice. "You will find... my son in his chambers. I trust you will handle this matter efficiently."

She bowed deeply. "I'll give you my word, Kasai-sama."

"Do not insult me, girl," the man countered harshly, shocking her and her teammates. "I believe I have granted you permission to address me according to the bond we created the last time you were here."

Sakura's eyebrows rose in concern. "Of course, Ieyasu-sama. Please forgive me for my rudeness," she said, bowing again, deeper than her last.

"Good. Hatake, Uchiha, your task begins now."

With only a glance at his Team, Itachi got his men bowing to the Fire Lord and retreating silently from the room. Sasuke looked at Naruto and nodded. Sakura rose with them, in order to leave the shinobi leaders and the Daimyo alone.

"Uzumaki," the Fire Lord's voice stopped them. "Please stay here. Hatake will take your place. Uchiha will go with Haruno."

Sakura blinked, but bowed again at the man's orders. It was probably for the best, seeing how Ieyasu's eyes seemed to lighten when Naruto kneeled in front of him.

Heaving a sigh, she walked out of the room, Uchiha Itachi in tow.

-X-

Both their steps resounded in the enormous hallway. Sakura sighed again, not really paying attention to the heavy and expensive decorations.

"Is something on your mind, Haruno-san?" the ANBU behind her asked smoothly. She glanced at his onyx eyes for a moment before shaking her head.

"Maybe you will be more useful with Kakashi-sensei," she murmured, suddenly wishing to be alone with her impending task. "An autopsy is not a pleasant procedure."

"I am merely following the Daimyo's orders," he whispered back dryly. "And do not worry, I have seen worse."

She chose not to rise to his baiting as they neared the Firstborn's chambers. Sakura took in a deep breath and nodded for the servant to open the big oak doors. As she expected, a stench of death and deteriorating flesh slapped at her medical senses.

"Thank you," she murmured to the tearful servant. "Please close the doors after we enter."

"But the preparations for the funeral--"

"I'm aware of the rituals," Sakura countered easily and kindly. "You will get the Heir's body intact."

Bowing hastily, the maid allowed entrance to the ninja into the room, closing the door behind them.

"Kasai Tsuyoshi, age ten," she murmured as she approached the bed where the child's body laid, untouched. "Presents gashes on his midriff and neck. Wound on the center of the chest indicates a direct blow to the heart."

Itachi merely watched her as she went about her findings, his Sharingan following closely to her enumerating facts. Pulling her gloves off and closing her eyes for a moment, she placed a hand on the child's chest.

"No chakra was involved in this wound..."

"Look at his head."

Opening her own emerald orbs, she stared at the Uchiha's red ones, as her chakra moved to the place he had suggested. A spark of recognition and surprise lit her features for a moment. "I see a disruption of chakra in his brain."

"It can be..." she trailed off as she placed her other hand on the spot he pointed at. She emitted a thoughtful sound. "Hmm... this is the remains of the child's chakra. When a person is killed by surprise, a little amount of chakra hides in the center of the brain, in order to act like a last resort for the brain to keep functioning. This reflex allows for the medics to keep feeding the brain with chakra pulses while others restore the body and the heart."

"So you can reanimate the child?" Itachi asked with a little hint of curiosity in his flat tone. Sakura shook her head.

"I can't do that. I don't have enough chakra for a massive energy insertion, and the patient isn't a ninja. He doesn't even have a heart, it got ripped out. I can't heal something that isn't there."

"I understand," Itachi nodded, walking slowly to the bed. "Do you need assistance?"

"No thanks, I'll just clean the body and perform the autopsy."

Itachi grunted, but didn't move from his spot. Sakura's hands retrieved a roll of gauze from her pack and looked around for something.

"Can you... ask the servant for some water? Warm, if they can?"

Itachi glanced at her briefly before walking decisively to the doors and issuing the order curtly to the maid.

"Oh, child," Sakura murmured sadly, looking to the closed eyes of the Fire's Firstborn. "You got caught up in a political maelstrom just because of your heritage. I truly hope your soul gets rest soon, Tsuyoshi-kun."

"We will make sure of that," Itachi answered for him as he placed the lacquered bowl full of warm water on the nightstand. "Is there anything else I can do?"

"No, Uchiha-san. Thank you," Sakura whispered, her eyes full of tears as she dipped the gauze on the water. "I'll take it from here."

He stood next to the bed, while Sakura started her procedure, placing a metal case with surgical instruments next to the boy's head. Sharingan eyes surveyed the room inch by inch, as he listened to the pink-haired medic's attempts to clear her throat full of sad sighs, among the sound of the water being squeezed out of the cloth as she cleaned the blood off of the corpse.

He didn't say a word. And for that, she was suddenly grateful with him.

-X-

"... Oh, Kami."

Itachi's eyes slid from their spot in space to land on the child's bloody chest, waiting for an explanation from the kunoichi. It didn't take long.

But he didn't expect to be inwardly taken aback by the sudden fire that soared from the depth of her emerald eyes.

"This was made with a large weapon, a broadsword or a... scythe," she reported, looking angry, pointing at one of the wounds. "I saw these kinds of wounds from the monks we found in the Fire Temple."

"So this is the handiwork of one of those nukenin from the Akatsuki criminal organization," he concluded, his brain already making connections and building theories. "What else?"

"It looks... as if the child drove a knife to his own heart," Sakura mused out loud. "But that's ridiculous, who can provide this child with a knife? He was the Heir; there was no need for him to be armed."

"Clean up your hands," Itachi ordered suddenly. "We need to confer with the Hokage."

Sakura stared at him for a moment but her hands obeyed his command on their own volition. "Uhm... how--oh, the communication jutsu."

"Indeed," he nodded curtly, pulling out a little scroll. "This is the hand-seal sequence. Make sure you apply enough chakra to the last ram seal, otherwise it won't work. Take a seat."

Joining him on the floor next to the bed after a light hesitation, she unrolled the scroll and studied the signs. "It looks like the summoning jutsu, but it ends differently."

"Yes. But the amount of chakra employed for the Kuchiyose no Jutsu is greater than the communication jutsu. You will need to enter a meditation state quickly. Can you do it?"

Sakura nodded, shooting him an exasperated glance as she lifted her hands. "Yes, I can."

Their hands flew in sync through the same seals, remaining in the last one, two fingers raised between gathered hands. Sakura's senses jumped in surprise when she found herself in the Hokage's office, looking at her mentor's smug façade.

"How did it go, Itachi?" she heard Tsunade asking, hearing her voice faintly as if she was shouting in a windy field.

"She managed in the first try," she heard his calm answer and felt ridiculously pleased with herself. "Report your findings to the Hokage, Haruno-san."

"Hi, Shishou," she started shyly, her senses picking up Tsunade's proud smile. "Uhm... Tsuyoshi-kun's body presents gashes and some markings that indicate restraining of his limbs."

"The child was bound?" she heard the blonde ask. Sakura nodded.

"Hai... the marks look like wire bindings, but they didn't cut the skin. It was more like regular threads... also, the gashes, Tsunade-shishou, the boy presents the same wounds that I found in the casualties at the Fire Temple."

"I've seen the results of your investigation already, Sakura, thank you for leaving those clues on the monk. But that means that the Akatsuki is responsible for the two assassinations."

"We have enough evidence to conclude that these particular works belong to two ninjas, one from Waterfall and the other from an unknown village. Their names are not disclosed just yet, but it is certain that one of them carries a large scythe."

"Remind me to dispatch a full request for a copy of the Bingo Book in Waterfall when you get back, Itachi," Tsunade spoke quickly. "You and Sakura did a fine job with this. Keep me posted, please."

"Hai," both ninja agreed and lowered their fingers, breaking the connection. Sakura opened her eyes slowly, perceiving a gray-white expanse of fabric in front of her. Blinking to gain focus, she lifted her gaze and looked straight to Itachi's Sharingan eyes.

They stared at each other for a long moment, but Sakura was the first to lower her eyes. Feeling a warmth seeping on her face, she cleared her throat and stood up, returning to the child's body.

"I have to finish," she said offhandedly, sticking her hands on the now cold water bowl tinged with red. Itachi stood up and went to the door.

"I will send one of your teammates to you. I need to speak with the Daimyo. Good job, Haruno-san."

Sakura's mouth opened in a gape as the door closed behind him. Did he just compliment her?

...But, why an Uchiha felt the need to praise a regular mortal, especially the Uchiha Heir?

-X-

Sasuke found her in the Firstborn room when Kakashi said he would find their female teammate. Standing in the door, he watched closely how she wrapped a white, clean sheet on the dead boy's body, her viridian eyes betraying how sad she felt due to the decease of said child.

"Sakura," he said, watching how she flinched when hearing his cold tone. "Kakashi wants you to finish here as soon as possible. We're holding a meeting with the other team in our assigned quarters."

"I'm already finished," she murmured, nodding to the awaiting servants. "He's already cleaned up with water, but the incense and the other cleanings hadn't been applied."

"We are thankful for your help, Sakura-sama," the maid answered, bowing deeply to the pink-haired medic. "We will take it from here."

"Yes, of course," she answered, tracing a finger on the child's covered forehead and walking to the door without looking back.

Another servant led the two jounins to the quarters that the Fire Lord had assigned to the shinobi. When he opened the door, a tanned, anxious face lifted from the circle of sitting males.

"Sakura-chan," Naruto called softly, standing to embrace his best friend protectively. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she said with a deep breath, noting the eyes of the rest of the others on her. "I'm just emotionally drained."

"Please take a seat, Sakura," Kakashi said lightly, pointing at a spot next to him. Yamato offered her a cup of tea, which she took with a nod of thanks. "Uchiha-san has explained everything to us. Do you want to add anything more?"

"I don't think so," she murmured, letting out a deep sigh. "It's obvious we're dealing with the assassins of that Daimyo Guard in the Fire Temple, although I don't know why they felt the need to restrain the child if they caught him in his sleep."

"Explain the chakra reflex," Itachi said suddenly. She frowned at her tea cup, enjoying briefly the warmth of the cup seeping into her hands. It was a reassuring sensation.

"It's a medical theory – all people possess chakra, but only we shinobi know how to focus and mold it to our necessities."

"That's nonsense, Sakura," Sasuke scoffed derisively. "Only ninjas have focusing energy."

Sakura lifted a brow. "Are you sure, Sasuke? What about the Fire Guard, Chiriku? Or the Souryo I healed back in the Fire Temple?"

"Lay down your weapons, children," Shisui said good-naturedly, placating. "I agree with Sakura-san, I saw the monk's chakra pathways myself. But what's that has to do with the 'chakra reflex' Itachi referred to earlier?"

"Like I was trying to say, people's chakra tends to convert into energy when the subject is not a ninja," Sakura relayed, closing her eyes and remembering the Firstborn's picture on his bed: bloody and mangled. Brows furrowing in a hard scowl, the medic-nin opened her eyes again and stared back at Shisui. "But then again, the chakra reflex is just a medical term for the last jerk of the body when it dies. I've seen quite a lot of subjects that were reanimated –only ninja patients, though– by triggering that spark of chakra inside their brains."

"Interesting concept, Haruno-san," Yamato piped in. "So you perceived a chakra spark on the child's head?"

"I didn't," she answered, looking at Itachi, who was looking out of the window. "Uchiha-san did. After the autopsy, I managed to identify the scythe wounds and the thread binding markings."

"That nukenin of Waterfall was certainly involved in this murder," Itachi said from his post near the window without turning. "The other one is the scythe-wielder. We need to keep looking for clues –I feel we are not the only shinobi in the Palace at the moment."

"Do you think they're here?" Sasuke asked, wide-eyed. "What are we waiting for?"

"Not so fast, Sasuke-chan," Shisui added after a glance from his young ANBU cousin. "There are a lot of civilians in the Palace. And we have to protect the Daimyo as well, and the rest of his family. We can't simply jump into a battle because we want to maul those fuckers."

Sakura gaped at Shisui, not really believing he had cursed in a loud voice. He gazed briefly at her and smirked.

"I believe there still are Uchiha that can keep you in your toes, Sakura-san, am I wrong?"

She snorted. "You are impossible, Shisui-san!"

"We will deploy in the phoenix formation," Itachi interrupted the light banter tersely. "The medic stays near the Daimyo while the others scout the Palace. We don't have any more time to lose."

"So like the perfect lady I am to stay back and watch?" the pink-haired jounin asked sarcastically. "I can tear this Palace down with a flick of my wrist and I can't take part in the battle?"

"Sakura, you are our medic, you need to protect the Daimyo," Kakashi said hastily, watching how the Uchiha Heir turned to look at her over his shoulder with narrowed eyes. "Besides, we need to come to you if we're injured – how we can stand a chance if you're unconscious or injured as well?"

"Stop making a scene, Sakura," Sasuke added, but Naruto jumped next to him caught him in a headlock.

"You need to shut your trap, teme!" he shouted. "Demo, Sakura-chan, Kakashi-sensei is right... you are safer inside with Ojiji-sama," he added awkwardly, scratching his head.

"Well, since everyone is against the feminist movement, I guess I shall stay indoors avoiding all harm," she sneered derisively, looking back at the elder Uchiha brother. "In fact, I think I'll have some tea with Ieyasu-sama--"

A thunderous crack and an explosion resounded throughout the entire Fire Palace.

"Forget the tea, Haruno-san," Itachi said in a flat tone with a hint of sarcasm. "We are under attack already."

-XxX-

AN: HEEEEE!! BATTORU!! 8D

Sorry for the wait, folks! I was dealing with some work-related issues.

I hope you liked this chapter, though. As many of you know by now, I took the Shogun Tokugawa's first name for the Fire Daimyo. I thought it fit for his character. Kasai, though, means "Fire, Family court".

As for the chakra spark thingy I pulled out of my butt, I assure that you will see more about that later.

As always, much love to my lovely beta, Sometime.Usagi, for her awesome insights and opinions! Thank you so much, Bunny Lady!. :3

Thanks for reading!