Chapter Seven – Letters

And with words unspoken

A silent devotion

I know you know what I mean

And the end is unknown

But I think I'm ready

As long as you're with me

-The XX "Angels"

Itachi,

I hope things at the borders are not too dangerous.

I was getting worried since Sasuke mentioned that you did not respond to the letters he sent. I hope you're still alive… and Shisui and Genma. How are they doing?

Sasuke is in the hospital right now. He and Naruto had an extra arduous training session. Apparently Naruto bet that since he had more chakra, he could beat Sasuke, and since Sasuke is Sasuke, he refused to believe Naruto could beat him. So the two sparred until Kakashi-sensei interfered. I swear I've spent half my life healing those two idiots. Next time they train to the point they have to be hospitalized, I'm not healing them, or I'll just make them eat my cooking.

Make sure you're allowing yourself proper rest. If I find out that you're overexerting yourself, I'm going to fail your psyche evaluation again and this time I'll make sure you have to attend counseling.

Counseling actually isn't that bad. I had to attend counseling once. It does help pent out things you normally wouldn't say and come to useful realizations. You're the first person I've told about this so you better not tell anyone.

Take care and keep safe.

Sakura

Sakura,

Borders are one of the most dangerous areas in the country. We are not stationed within camp for long periods of time, like other teams and nin. We have mostly been patrolling and there seem no signs of extreme danger anywhere, although the threat of Akatsuki sightings always lingers in the air.

We were out patrolling for the past two weeks; I did not have a chance to write back to my Otouto. When we are at base camp, there is more time for leisure – like writing back letters and getting a few extra hours of sleep.

Shisui and Genma are well, although Shisui often complains about not having a medic on the team to easily heal his injuries. Your presence within this team is greatly missed. I would propose that you think about joining team eleven as a permanent member but I am sure that your duties at the hospital and team seven hold greater importance.

Sasuke has a tendency not to back away from a fight, like your blonde teammate. I ask that you make sure my foolish brother and his equally foolish teammate do not end up hurting themselves to the point of hospitalization. If they do, I give you my blessing not to heal them. They should know better than to train to the point that their injuries are so grave, that they need to be admitted to the hospital. I assume my Okaasan was not pleased either.

I apologize if you had taken offense when I commented on your cooking. I did not mean to insult you. Looking back, I understand where your anger was coming from. Thank you for complimenting my cooking. Okaasan taught me a few recipes here and there. On a lighter note, I am sure that you can use your cooking skills as a fine form of punishment.

Your threats of failing my psyche exam never ceases to amuse me, as they do not frighten me per say. I find them quite entertaining that you threat your superior with such things. I wonder if you threaten your other superiors as well. I doubt that the hokage would allow one of his best shinobi to idly sit in the village. Your remarks about flunking my exam will only backfire to you. I highly suggest you come up with other ultimatums, as your current one will not work anymore.

I still, however, wonder how you managed to fail my psyche exam. Such breach in policy could potentially weaken Konoha if it were to get in the wrong hands. Not everyone has a good heart like you.

I was not aware that you had counseling sessions before. I admit that I did not know of your activities before you started joining team eleven on missions, but I never took you for the kunoichi to be assigned to these sessions. If I may ask, how did you end up in counseling? It is a rather personal matter, I do not expect you to answer. But do not worry, your secret is safe with me.

I hope everything in Konoha is going well.

Take care of yourself.

Itachi

Itachi,

I'm actually really surprised you responded. But I'm glad too. I assumed that you're really busy with patrolling to write letters.

Sasuke misses you, even though he'd never say it out loud. You're his brother and he really looks up at you almost as a god-like figure. I don't understand… you're very talented but you're not that amazing. You did fail your psyche exam last time I checked. And don't worry about him, I have him and Naruto under control. Shannaro.

I have come to peace with my inability to foster an edible meal. I'm sure you can prance around my kitchen again and make me dinner if I'm completely famished. It's not like you need my permission. I'm taking your suggestion and using my cooking as a weapon. I threatened Sasuke and Naruto that I was going to feed them my cooking if I ever saw them in the hospital again and they have been extremely well behaved since then.

And I don't threaten my superiors. Kakashi-sensei doesn't count, he's like family to me. I would never talk to the Sandaime like that though – actually I probably would if I could get away with it. Consider it a good thing if I threaten you. It means I care.

Although I'm really flattered, I don't think that I can be a permanent member of team eleven. There are not enough highly trained medical-nins. I think it would be more beneficial to the village if I stay as a temporary medical-nin to team eleven and rotate my time between different teams (as I am doing right now). My duties at the hospital are also too great for me to be a full member of team eleven. Plus, I think Sasuke and Naruto would riot if I permanently join Sasuke's psycho older brother's team.

No offense.

The village is doing fine. It's pretty boring here.

I've been training with team seven and working at the hospital. I also assisted a couple ANBU teams on their missions, although I've grown to prefer team eleven over other ANBU teams.

It's been a little over three months since you guys left for the borders. It's definitely colder in Konoha. We got a lot of snow this year almost three feet. I think the last time we got this much snow I was still a genin. Konoha looks so beautiful covered in white. It sucks because I can't wear my beloved skirts in this weather. Pity.

Konoha almost looks like Yukigakure. Just thinking about Yukigakure and our last mission there gives me extra chills. If team eleven is ever assigned a mission there, I'm not accepting it. I refuse to go to that freezing cold island. I feel bad for the genin though, as the genin teams are assigned to clean the snow-covered streets.

The hospital is crammed with sick patients. Naruto had a cold and passed it down to Konohamaru who passed it down to Shikamaru who passed it down to Ino who passed it down to me. Everyone has a cold. I'm pretty sure you're safer at the borders than in Konoha.

I had this one patient, a civilian in his late twenties, who proposed to me. It was super awkward. He came in with a high fever and other flu-like symptoms. He kept on barraging me with reasons why we would make a great couple until he fainted. He just fainted out of nowhere! I had to rush him into surgery, as I later found out he has a heart condition. Now I feel bad about declining his marriage proposal. He was kind of cute. He said he was the owner of Konoha's best massage therapy services. I'll have to check it out and he owes me. I saved his life after all.

I was assigned counseling years ago, when Sasuke left with Orochimaru and Naruto was with Jiraiya. I only had a few sessions but they really helped. I highly recommend them, especially to you – knowing that you failed you psyche exam.

I'll never tell you how I managed to do that. Never ever. It's a secret. I'm sure you understand. You'll be guessing for the rest of your life.

You missed New Years in Konoha. There were fireworks. I went to the little garden on the hokage mountain to watch the display. You would've really enjoyed show. It was breathtaking, a little more beautiful than the ones at the fall festival.

Mikoto-san invited team seven for dinner a few times. She really misses you.

Speaking about cooking earlier, Sasuke makes the best chocolate chip cookies. Who would've known?! Sasuke and Naruto stayed over my house one night and he said he could make cookies from scratch. We had to go buy ingredients because I have no food stocked in my home, but Naruto and I had to see it for real. And man, Sasuke wasn't lying. His cookies are fantastic. Can you make cookies? I bake. My cookies are ok, but I don't make them from scratch like Sasuke.

What are with you Uchiha and your perfect hair and dancing abilities and amazing culinary skills? It's not fair. Tell me your secrets.

Is it the shampoo you use? I use the same shampoo as Pakkun, Kakashi-sensei's tracker dog.

I wish you and Shisui and Genma were here. I doubt there are cookies at the borders. We can force Sasuke to make cookies for you once you come back.

Take care of yourself and our silly teammates.

Sakura

Sakura,

I appreciate your letters. Hearing from you is an escape from the mundane yet perilous lifestyle of being stationed at the borders.

Last time I checked, you failed my psyche exam. You are lucky that I did not report your actions.

Threatening people is a weird way of showing affection. I am sure if a person wants to express their fondness for another, the normal thing to do is take them out on the date. But I guess the shinobi lifestyle is different. Next time I want to show my affection, I will surely threaten them. Thank you for your advice.

It has been a long time since Konoha suffered a rather harsh winter. Konoha's harshest winters, however, cannot compare to Yukigakure though. I second your notion for not receiving another mission in Yukigakure. I do not want to visit that village when it is winter there.

How unfortunate for you not being able to wear those unpractical skirts of yours. I am sure your legs would beg to differ.

No one really knows how Sasuke knows how to make cookies from scratch – this particular skill set of his is one of Konoha's most puzzling conundrums. I know Okaasan did not teach him how too. He made cookies once a few months, when our parents were away for the weekend. They did taste rather good. If his shinobi career does not work out, he can join you and Naruto to open up bakery.

Make sure you keep an eye on them.

I do not do anything to my hair, but thank you for your compliment. I have been using the same shampoo for years now. I did not know it was an object of obsession of yours. I am flattered though, that you think my hair is perfect.

I cannot say that I am a perfect however. I have never danced before Genma's party and you are the only person other than Sasuke who I have cooked for. Consider yourself lucky to have witnessed some of my 'perfect' attributes.

I do have many flaws, contrary to popular belief. I've been told that I do not have appropriate responses to angry medics and do not take care of myself. Another one of my flaws is apologizing when I do not know what I am apologizing for. I am sure you will agree to these shortcomings of mine.

I am glad that you are keeping yourself busy with team seven and other ANBU teams. I understand your uneasiness of accompanying other teams. You would not have this problem if you permanently join team eleven. But I understand your point of view. Your skills are far too useful for you to be pinned to just one team. Your exceptional medical expertise is strongest in the hospital and that benefits the village the most.

New year at the border was not anything extravagant. I do wish I were watching the fire work display at the garden on the mountains with you like last time. We shinobi, however, do not always have that kind of luxury.

On a brighter note, I'm glad that you have a marriage proposal waiting for you. You are at a decent age to get married. I would go get the massage if I were you.

Genma and Shisui are fine and well behaved, for the most part. I did not need to spank them, yet.

Be Safe.

Itachi

Sakura tried not to squeal like a schoolgirl after reading Itachi's letter but a relieved sigh escaped her lips as she leaned against her door to her home.

Four months.

It was four months since team eleven departed for the borders. Sakura did not realize how much time she spent with team eleven until they were sent to the borders for a third of a year. She would never admit it out loud, or when Sasuke and Naruto were around, but she completely missed her other teammates.

After asking Tsunade a few too many times for any updates of team eleven, her shishou snorted and told the pinkette to find out for herself. It was only three weeks since they left but it was eating Sakura out. She had only looked at her shishou confused. How was she supposed to find out? It was not like she could simply leave Konoha and travel to the borders to find out for herself. Sakura did not know why she was so worried. Itachi, Shisui, and Genma were fine shinobi who could take care of themselves at the borders.

There was no way she could contact them. She would just have to wait a little over four months for them to return. Sakura just sighed and continued her daily activities. She picked up a few extra lessons to teach at the Medical School and logged more unreasonable hours at the hospital. Sasuke and Naruto were happy that Sakura was all theirs for the period that team eleven was away at the borders. Sakura did not attempt to scold her unreasonable boys. She guilty did enjoy spending more time with them.

Team seven was at Ichiraku when Sasuke mentioned that it had been a little over two weeks since Itachi responded to his letter. Sakura assured him that Itachi was probably busy patrolling but she was internally panicking. What if something happened to him? What if he was injured? She was not there to heal him. Sakura was so overfilled with concern and anxiety that she excused herself from Ichiraku, much to Naruto's chagrin. Her stomach did not feel so great.

A part of her knew that she was just overreacting to Sasuke's statement. Itachi was fine. He was busy. But she could not convince herself. Half of her was concerned for his safety while the other half was angry with herself for being so concerned in the first place. Leave it to the Uchiha for making her emotions go haywire. He was not even in Konoha and he still made her emotions run wild. She was falling for him harder while he was out of the village. Tsunade would lecture her for hours if her shishou got a hold of her feelings.

Then it hit her. She should just write Itachi a letter. Sakura could think of a hundred reasons why she should not send a letter to him, but she concluded that she would sleep better at night knowing that she tried to communicate with him. It took Sakura days to build up the courage to think about writing a letter to Itachi. It took her more days to actually write the letter. And it took her more time to actually send it. She never wrote a letter to Itachi before. But then again, she never was this concerned for him either.

Her letter was short and sweet and completely professional. Sakura did not know if Itachi was going to respond. Probably not. He was busy for sure. He did not have time to write letters to her to save her sanity. Itachi was patrolling. His sole focus had to be for the mission. Sakura tried to think of the disappointment that would string through her if he did not respond.

But when his letter did reach her, Sakura felt a huge wave of relief run through her. Sakura took in his impeccably neat handwriting before reading the letter. She imagined his voice as she read it once, twice, and a final time. Sakura could see his brows scrunched together when he described him patrolling from different camps and his superior smirk when he told her to take care of her foolish teammates. Sakura read the sincerity of his apology to her cooking skills and the humor of his teasing to her threatening her superiors. It almost felt like he was in Konoha with her. Sakura could not help the quick beating of her heart and the warmth that pooled in her stomach.

It was getting colder in Konoha. Just a few days after she received Itachi's letter, it snowed for three days straight in the village. It was freezing. The lush greenness of Konoha was covered in white. It definitely was not skirt weather anymore. Sakura spent the entire day with team seven playing in the snow like they were genin again. Snowball fights with Naruto were not fun. He made clones and suddenly the three way snowball fight turned into a battle. Sasuke overreacted and unleashed a fireball at several Naruto clones, almost burning Sakura in the way. The battle was over the second Sakura threw her infamous punch to the ground almost sucking Naruto and Sasuke in.

Sakura went on a mission under Neji's ANBU team. Neji was a member of team eleven for a year before he got promoted to captain. It was his spot in team eleven that Sakura was currently filling in for. Neji was a lot like Itachi – collected, perceptive, and extremely talented. Tenten also served under him, as they made quite a pair on and off the field. Although Sakura enjoyed accompanying her fellow friends on missions, she could not help but prefer being part of team eleven instead.

Team seven had dinner several times at Sasuke's. With Itachi at the borders, Mikoto showered extra adoration towards Sakura and Naruto. It was clear. Mikoto was worried sick for Itachi. Sakura always saw the faint stress lines on Mikoto's forehead whenever Itachi would leave for a mission. It was a mother's duty to worry about her children.

Sakura stayed awake for that whole night wondering. When she had her own kids, and if they chose the shinobi lifestyle, she would definitely be unable to sleep at night while they were on missions. Then she began wondering about how many kids she would have and with who. She suddenly imagined little Uchiha babies with pink hair. The pinkette giggled at the thought. If she were to have little Uchiha babies, they would most definitely have dark hair. Sakura almost choked when she realized what she was thinking. She threw a pillow over her head in embarrassment. There was no way she and Itachi were having babies together. They would have to first have sex to produce offspring.

The thought of making love with the Uchiha heir affected Sakura's concentration for days. Itachi had her stuttering and stumbling all over. She was sure Tsunade was enjoying the pathetic show she was putting on as Shizune only looked on worriedly. But the medic could not shake the thought out of her head.

What type of lover was Itachi? He was gentle person. Itachi would make love slowly and gently. But he was a shinobi. There was no doubt he had a rough and hot side to him. The permanent blush set on Sakura's cheeks only faltered when the thought of his experience. He was twenty-five years old. He must have had sex before. But Itachi did not seem the type to casually sleep with women, yet he did not seem the type to still be a virgin. Sakura effectively shut down any thoughts relating to Itachi's questionable virginity.

She was a virgin. It was odd for a shinobi of twenty to still remain a virgin but Sakura could not sleep with some person she did not feel some connection to. She was rarely sent on seduction missions – as Sakura suspected her shishou played a role in that. She never gave a second thought about her virginity until now.

Her continuous thoughts about Itachi, both pure and not so pure thoughts, only made her miss him more. Her silly little irritation with him before left no traces in her memories. Instead of joining rookie nine to watch the annual New Year's firework display, Sakura watched the show from the little garden on the hokage mountain.

Sakura continued writing him letters. If she were at the borders, she would expect a letter from everybody she knew. She knew how things worked at the borders. The pinkette was never stationed there but she did spend a week there a year ago as a medic. It was not a fun place to be at. She knew that Itachi would never complain about being stationed there but she knew that he did not prefer being sent there. No shinobi did. She only imaged her letters were the only form of color that he saw.

It was definitely relieving reading his words in the letter he sent back. Sakura sighed and continued to lean against her door. She smiled softly. Sakura liked to think she was starting to become a person that Itachi could rely on and start putting more trust in. Sakura knew that he was a distant person. He had barely any friends, and could care less about it. He kept himself emotionally and physically isolated. She wanted to be his support. She wanted him to trust her. She wanted him to know that she was always going to be his friend, ignoring her dirty thoughts about him that lingered in her head.

He teased her in his letter. That was surely a good sign. For years that Sakura knew the Uchiha, he always held himself composed and distant. But he was opening up to her and Sakura felt a high that she never felt before. She wanted Itachi to be open, with her at least. She wanted Itachi to feel the butterflies she felt when he was around her.

She liked Itachi. She really liked Itachi. She really, really liked Itachi. There was no denying it. She fell for the tall, dark, mysterious Uchiha and she was in deep. Sakura sighed as she put on her boots and gloves. She needed to let this out before she bursted into a million pieces.

Sakura stepped out of her house as the cold wind hit her face. Her feet automatically took her to her destination as her head continued to ponder about her feelings. She was so deep in her thoughts that Sakura did not realize when she stepped inside the Yamanaka Flower Shop and stood in front of the counter.

Ino stared at her rose haired best friend standing in front of her. The Yamanaka raised her eyebrow questioningly but Sakura did not notice. The pinkette was so caught up her thoughts. The forehead was probably over-thinking about something again. "Cough, cough," Ino cleared her voice but Sakura did not move. "Cough! Cough! Cough! Forehead are you listening to me choke!"

That seemed to finally break Sakura from her thoughts as she looked up. "What?" Sakura asked confused as Ino sighed overdramatically.

"Forehead, I was choking and you just stood there," Ino rubbed her temples histrionically and leaned onto her elbows that were on the counter, "What illness brings you to me today?"

"I like Itachi," Sakura blurted as Ino nearly fell over. The blonde's jaw nearly dropped to ground.

Ino observed Sakura thoroughly, trying to find any signs of humor or deceit. Ino could not find any. Sakura was completely serious. The two friends stared at each for a few moments before Ino took off her apron and bid farewell to her Okaasan. She grabbed Sakura's hand and pulled out the flower shop. "We're going to talk about this," Ino muttered.

Sakura let Ino pull her into a nearby coffee shop. The two sat down at a booth by the window. Ino order hot chocolate for the two as she quietly stared at Sakura, trying to conceal her inner glee. Her plan worked. Of course, she would have to thank her accomplice, they helped too, but the results were breathtaking. Ino internally hung another gold medal in her head. She was going to open up a matchmaking shop. The waitress brought their hot cocoa. "Talk," Ino instructed as she took a sip of her warm drink.

Sakura sighed and shrugged. "I don't know, pig," Sakura said slowly. "I don't know how or when but I like him."

"Just like?" Ino smirked, moving her brows up and down suggestively.

"I don't know," Sakura exasperated, throwing a glare at the Yamanaka.

Ino leaned back as she continued to observe Sakura. The pinkette was finally coming to her senses regarding her feelings for the Uchiha. "Well, if you want my advice," Ino threw her hands up defensively as Sakura narrowed her eyes. "I say you should act on those feelings. They're not going to go away because you decided to hold them in."

Sakura opened her mouth to respond but Ino hushed her with a finger to the pinkette's mouth. "Listen Sakura. I know you. When you say 'I don't know', I know you know. You just don't know what do about those feelings," Ino paused as she let Sakura take in what she said. "The thing is forehead, those feelings are there for a reason. I'm not telling you to jump on Itachi the next time you see him. I'm telling you that there is a very good reason for your strong feelings for him. Don't back away because you're confused."

"I'm not confused," Sakura softly stated. A part of her scoffed. She was a little confused but confusion was not why she was sitting in front of Ino. "I just don't know what to do. Do I tell him? Do I not? I mean, I don't know if he even feels the same way. I doubt he even does."

Ino wanted to tell Sakura that she knew that Itachi definitely felt the same way but Sakura would only question Ino how she knew that and that would lead her to spilling her part in the whole matter. Sakura would definitely not be pleased to find out that she was lurking in the shadows of Sakura and Itachi's relationship. "Please, I'm sure that he feels the same way. I don't know the dynamics between you two, but I have watched you two interact and he definitely has feelings for you."

Sakura looked up questioningly at Ino. "You watched us interact before?"

Ino held her smile in place. She would have to be careful of what she revealed to Sakura. "Of course I have! Remember Genma's party?"

A blush covered Sakura's cheeks as sunk into the seat embarrassed. "Oh no," Sakura mumbled, "Please tell me no one else noticed."

"Relax forehead, no one else noticed you and Itachi dirty dancing, at least I think no one else noticed. I mean, whoa! Who knew that Itachi knew how to dance like that? I would've never imagined," Ino winked. "You're one lucky girl Sakura, you don't know what I would do to get Shika to dance like that with me. Look at it like this forehead. I'm sure Itachi doesn't dirty dance with every girl he can. If he was completely repulsed by you, why would he dance like that?"

A vein throbbed on Sakura's forehead "He isn't repulsed by me!" Sakura countered.

"See exactly! He clearly has feelings for you if you both basically had sex with clothes on. He's an Uchiha and you're stubborn as a mule. You're going to get nowhere in this relationship of yours if you don't make the first move," Ino explained.

Sakura sunk lower in her seat. What was the pig talking about? She did not have sex with clothes on with Itachi. They merely enjoyed each other's company with dance motions. Her inner scoffed at her explanation. Sakura groaned as she picked herself up and tried to hide her face behind her cup of hot cocoa from Ino's peering glaze.

The Yamanaka did have a point though. Sakura sighed. Ino was the queen when it came to relationships. The blonde knew her too well. Ino was right. She was stubborn as a mule and Itachi was an Uchiha. They were doomed if they left it at that. She would have to make the first move. There was no way Itachi would pour out his feelings first. He was an Uchiha – emotionally constipated. There were so many reasons why she felt so strongly towards Itachi. Now all she had to do was bring her feelings to reality.

"Ughhh," Sakura groaned, "Naruto and Sasuke are going to shit bricks."

"Tch, who cares about Naruto and Sasuke. I don't see you complaining about who they date. I swear, if Naruto and Hinata were not awkwardly seeing each other, I'd be convinced that Naruto and Sasuke were dating each other," Ino responded with a giggle.

Sasuke and Naruto would make a wonderful pair, Sakura thought with a giggle. They would probably kill each other at the end of the day but they definitely did act like a married couple with all their bickering. Sakura took another sip of her hot cocoa, feeling ten pounds lighter with Ino's advice.

An ANBU popped in front the two kunoichi's booth. "Haruno Sakura, you are needed at the hospital." The ANBU disappeared as quickly as they appeared.

Sakura sighed. It was never a good sigh when she was summoned to the hospital. She bid a quick farewell to Ino before heading to the hospital.

Itachi could still feel her slender arms around him even weeks after. He could still feel her gentle, quick hug. He could still smell the lingering sweet scent of her shampoo. It was pathetic. He was pathetic. He was out at the borders, hunting down the Akatsuki and images of the pink haired medic overwhelmed his thoughts. He had to focus solely on the mission. But Sakura refused to leave his head. No matter how hard he tried to focus on the mission, she kept invading his thoughts.

Shisui and Genma must have picked up on his extra-stiff behavior because they remained more cautious and less animated around him. Shisui did not even call him the girly nickname Itachi disliked. He knew that the two probably thought he was still sulking at Sakura's obvious exasperating behavior at Yakiniku Q. They were wrong. Her behavior at the dinner was not bothering him, anymore. Her presence within his head was the culprit behind his unusual behavior.

They had gotten a lead on the Akatsuki's whereabouts along the Land of Fire and Amegakure's borders. The team had swiftly made their way to the lead, hoping to find traces of the members. They had patrolled the area for a few weeks, with no signs of the dangerous organization. That was when he first received Sakura's letter.

He was surprised at first. Itachi did not think she would write him letters. She had not told him beforehand she would. But it was a pleasant surprise. Her familiar neat handwriting kept him a little saner and brought some homely comfort. The pinkette was inquiring about his lack of response to Sasuke's letters. It was obvious she was concerned for him and he rather liked that she was. If she were in his head, he might as well be in hers. She managed to threaten to fail his psyche exam again and he almost laughed at it. She was miles away but for the first time, Itachi felt that he had someone to go back to after the mission was over. It was a good feeling.

Shisui kept throwing curious glances at him but never asked him what had suddenly changed his dark aura. Itachi effectively ignored the looks his teammates were throwing at him. It was none of their business. Shisui chirped that Sakura must have been writing him letters for his mood to lighten again. Shisui did not know how right he was.

Itachi quickly wrote a letter back to the pinkette. He refused to admit how eager and anxious he was for her response. It was weeks since she responded. The weather along the border varied drastically – it was fiercely hot in one location while deathly cold at another. That was the beauty of the Fire Country – its contrasting weather.

Team eleven scouted for weeks. The holiday season passed, New Years passed while they continued to serve their village. Shisui had somehow came to posses a bottle of sake, and while Itachi did not frivolously drink on New Years night, Shisui and Genma had a rather celebratory night. Itachi would normally not allow such behavior in the middle of a mission, but he knew that they were not going to encounter any enemies that night, plus he knew Shisui and Genma would be back to shinobi mood tomorrow morning.

Their assigned mission was more than half way over and they had yet to encounter any members of the infamous organization. All they had were supposed rumors of Akatsuki locations. He knew the Sandaime would most likely extend the mission another few months if they did not engage with the Akatsuki within their assign five months. The hokage's last message to the Uchiha stated that he was sending two additional teams to start scouting the Fire Country's borders.

The Akatsuki was becoming more and more of a threat. He heard they recently captured the seven-tails from Takigakure a few weeks ago. Itachi knew that the Sandaime wanted to contain the Akatsuki from gaining any new power before the coming chunin exams hosted in Konoha in the summer. There was a very high probability that the Akatsuki would come for nine-tails during that event and the Sandaime had every intention to decrease the organization of at least three-four members.

Itachi had apparently gone back to his sulking as he heard Genma and Shisui whisper while they were patrolling. He was not sulking. He was focused. The threat of Akatsuki was becoming a little too real and Itachi had no intention of extending their five-month mission because they could not track down the Akatsuki.

He had received another letter from Sakura only a few days after Shisui's uncalled for comment. Her animated writing brought a little color to the stress of hunting down the Akatsuki. She was blabbing throughout the whole letter of various events in Konoha but he could only faintly smile at her prattle. He could see her sitting at her desk in her office at the hospital, writing the letter. He could see her scrunch her eyebrows in wonder and confusion at Sasuke's cookies and her mocking smirk at her jabbing at his 'perfection'.

He responded to her letter rather quickly, knowing fully while that team eleven was going to be traveling to the borders of the River Country. It was going to be a five-day travel from where team eleven was stationed at the moment. He would not have time to write Sakura another letter probably until the five months were over.

It was within the same day when Itachi sent Sakura the letter that team eleven came across the two-man team of Hidan and Kakuzu. Itachi did not know if he felt relief or anxiousness. All he knew that this was going to be a battle that he had to take seriously.

When Sakura first walked onto the OR floor, her eyes automatically fell upon dark ones. It was only after the initial shock that Sakura noticed a deep, bleeding gash on Itachi's stomach. She opened her mouth and started making her way towards him but was instantly pulled by Shizune into an OR. Sakura did not have the time to question her mentor before her ivy eyes fell upon a barely recognizable Genma. Sakura quickly tied her hair into high ponytail and scrubbed in.

The pinkette examined his grave injuries; five broken ribs, random stabs along chest and torso, broken wrist, popped right shoulder, long cut along neck, right leg most likely broken, extreme blood loss, damage to internal organs in the chest cavity, collapsed lungs, extreme chakra depletion. Sakura stopped listing his damages in her head and started pouring healing chakra into his body. She would have never guessed that the body before her was Genma if she did not sense the small amount of chakra inside of him.

She started mending his internal injuries as Shizune started healing from the outside. Their first concern was his collapsed lungs. Then they would have to focus on fixing his organs before they healed his bones. Just by a quick scan, Sakura instinctively knew that Genma was going to have a long, painful recovery ahead of him.

The pinkette wanted to shake him awake and give him an earful about being careful on missions but she was in complete medic mode. She wanted to let her shoulders down and act like a concerned teammate but now was not the time. She was not his teammate at the moment. She was his medic and her duty was to heal him.

She lost track of the time around her but when Tsunade came and gently peeled her away from Genma, did Sakura realize that she was on the verge of chakra depletion. She wanted to stay by his side and continue to heal her teammate but she knew that she would be a burden if she fell down unconscious from chakra exhaustion.

"You did good," Tsunade whispered in her ear as the Senju made her way towards the unconscious body. Sakura nodded and started walking out of the OR. She wondered why Tsunade did not remove Shizune from the OR. Shizune was almost out of chakra too. Sakura knew that Genma and Shizune had a weird relationship.

Tsunade had found out that her first apprentice slept with the Shiranui a few years ago and never ceased to drop small innuendos around Shizune about Genma. Sakura was surprised when she first heard about their involvement. Although the two were seeing each in the past, Shizune had promised that she was no longer seeing the ANBU operative. Sakura sighed as she washed her hands. The two may no longer be seeing each other but it was clear Shizune still held strong feelings towards him.

Sakura quickly left the hospital, noting that it was dark outside. She finally let her shoulders drop as she stepped inside her home. Her legs dragged her to the bathroom as she let her bathtub fill with water. She stripped herself of her clothing and laid inside the warm water. A relieved sighed escaped her lips as her shoulders slowly relaxed.

Genma was going to be fine. She chanted his wellbeing in her head like a mantra. He was going to be fine. Sakura felt her eyes closing slightly. Again she lost track of time. Knowing that it was stupid to fall asleep in her tub, Sakura groaned as she lifted her tired body from her tub and grabbed a towel to dry herself. Sakura put on a long sleeved flannel shirt and shorts as she walked outside her bathroom.

She found herself in a familiar situation as she saw Itachi leaning against her wall. He looked up to her but his face was pensive as ever. Sakura almost twitched when she observed the look on his face. His normally inscrutable countenance expressed unnatural emotions ranging from ire to guilt. But all those emotions were blocked by his heavily fatigued and drained posture. Ivy eyes automatically scanned his body for any injuries but none were visible. Tsunade must have healed him before she came to heal Genma.

For months Sakura told herself that she was being overly concerned for the safety of team eleven. She tried to convince herself that her three teammates were going to be fine, that no serious harm was going to come their way. How wrong was she. Her concern was perfectly justified, as Genma was hanging by a thread, Itachi looked completely worn-out – mentally and physically, and god knows where Shisui was at the moment or if he was still alive. Sakura mentally slapped herself. There was no way Shisui was dead.

Sakura took a step forward towards him and opened her mouth but only a small yelp came out as Itachi suddenly appeared in front of her. "Are you injured?" Sakura asked quietly. Itachi shook his slightly but still did not say anything. Sakura wanted to scoff. Sure, he was not physically injured – except for chakra depletion – but he was definitely not ok. Sakura closed her eyes and let her forehead drop against Itachi's chest. She tried to calm her inner turmoil but failed with no avail.

It was the Akatsuki. Sakura knew it. There was no shinobi strong and powerful enough to seriously harm team eleven other than the Akatsuki. They must have run into the dangerous organization while they were patrolling the borders. Sakura felt a sour taste in her mouth at the thought. Team eleven had battled against Akatsuki members. Itachi fought the Akatsuki. The ugly gash on Itachi's stomach flashed through Sakura's mind as she tried to bring her head up to face Itachi but she suddenly felt herself being lifted.

Sakura wanted to open her eyes but her entire body protested. Her eyes refused to open and her body snuggled into the warm body that was carrying her somewhere. She felt herself being gently placed onto something soft but she refused to latch off of her heat source. After what felt like hours, Sakura felt a body dip beside her and bring her heavy covers over her body. She nestled into that warmth that seemed to be holding her.

Itachi was formidable. Itachi was human. Itachi could die.

She could have lost him.

With those final thoughts, Sakura fell into a deep slumber. She did not know how long she was sleeping but when her eyes opened again, she still felt exhausted maybe even more so than before. Her eyes drifted to the body beside her. Sakura tried not to move but her small shifting woke up the Uchiha next to her.

Dark eyes bore into hers. For a moment Sakura did not know what to say. She yawned while asked, "How long was I sleeping?"

It could not be that long. Her muscles still ached and her eyes felt unnaturally heavy. Her chakra was not even half way refurbished. Itachi blinked a few times before responding, "Three hours."

Sakura tried not to groan as she snuggled back to his side. She felt an arm slowly wrap around her waist. She tried not to over think the situation but her mind made gladly up for her physical exhaustion. Itachi was in bed with her. They were in her bed together. She remembered drowsing off when she rested her head against his chest and refusing to detach herself from him when he brought her to her bed. She never expected Itachi to stay though. She assumed he would leave whenever he could remove her limbs from his.

He stayed. The thought sent warm butterflies down her stomach.

"I feel sick," Sakura mumbled.

She felt dark eyes shift to glance at her but Sakura made no attempts to move. "Did you eat?" Itachi quietly asked.

Sakura shook her head. "I'm not hungry."

Though she was not looking at him, Sakura clearly felt his disapproving glare. Sakura was about to retort to that annoying look but he disappeared from her bed. She stared at the empty spot beside her confused. Maybe he was going to make her food. She would definitely not stop him if he were going to make her his delicious onigiri balls.

Itachi appeared a few moments later, with a glass filled with what Sakura observed to be some herbal tea she stocked in the fridge. Sakura sat up and reached for the glass but Itachi did not remove his hands from the glass. "You need nourishment," Itachi quietly instructed. He brought the glass to her lips and slowly titled it, as Sakura slowly drank the contents.

Although tired, her thoughts were spinning, trying to organize everything that happened within the last few hours. Team eleven had come back to Konoha from their patrolling with a deathly injured Genma. Itachi had been once again waiting in her room at nighttime and he stayed when she refused to let go of him. A small blush covered her cheeks as Sakura pushed away the glass and turned her head slightly away from Itachi glance, although he did have a clear view of her face.

Itachi looked down at the pinkette. The room was completely dark, but he caught a glimpse of Sakura's slightly flushed face. She was clearly uncomfortable with his presence so close. He felt the same, but it was not a bad kind of uncomfortable. He never slept beside the opposite gender before; it was only uncomfortable because it was unfamiliar territory.

The Uchiha honestly did not know why he showed up at Sakura's home. Team eleven had encountered Hidan and Kakuzu on their way to the River Country's borders. Itachi was half-glad that they ran into the Akatsuki. It meant that their mission was halfway completed. All team eleven had to do was defeat the two members of the notorious organization. Hidan and Kakuzu were the two members of the Akatsuki that Konoha had little to no information on. They knew more details on the organization's leader than this two-man team. The lack of information doubled the riskiness of the battle. The ANBU team would have to be entirely focused.

Itachi knew he was a strong and gifted shinobi. He had many unique talents that could not be copied by other nin. It seemed like the silver haired missing-nin from Yugakure also had rare abilities. Hidan claimed immortality to which Itachi scoffed at. He was a good opponent, as Genma was caught in his curse. Itachi observed that once the Jashin follower collected his opponent's blood, Hidan and his victim became linked as Hidan used his body as voo-doo doll to inflict pain to his victim.

The team was caught off guard as Genma received the same inflictions as Hidan administrated to himself. Shisui told Itachi to go take down Kakuzu. While Itachi battled the money-hungry nin, information Itachi collected from the two missing-nin's annoying banter, Shisui assisted Genma, who was completely powerless against Hidan.

Although Kakuzu was an excellent opponent, Itachi defeated him after what seemed like he killed the Akatsuki member a hundred times. Shisui had figured out a way to counterattack Hidan's curse and used it as Hidan's downfall. Itachi sealed both the missing-nin's bodies into a scroll to take back to Konoha. When the Uchiha laid eyes on Genma, he could barely recognize his fellow teammate. Shisui had a few cuts and bruises and Itachi only suffered a gash to his stomach. Genma, on the other hand, looked horrible.

This was the only time while they were out of Konoha that Itachi genuinely wished Sakura were with them. She would easily be able to heal Genma. Genma was in dire need of medical assistance that neither Itachi nor Shisui could deliver. They could find a medic in nearby towns but that would be risky. They could travel to Konoha but it was a little under a day's worth of travel. Itachi concluded that if they traveled at high speed without any break, they could reach Konoha within half a day.

Shisui and Itachi traveled nonstop until they reached Konoha and first dropped Genma at the hospital. Itachi wanted to report to the hokage but Tsunade literally hauled him into a room to heal the gash on his stomach. His jaw clenched when he caught a quick glimpse of confusion, worry, and relief displayed on Sakura's face as she stared at his stomach. The pinkette was quickly pulled into Genma's OR room and he was pulled by Tsunade into another room.

Itachi tried to remain calm but he knew his shoulder would remain tense until he got a confirmation that Genma was going to survive. Despite Tsunade's threats, Itachi made his way to the hokage's office after he was healed. He informed the hokage of the events that played out. Although the Sandaime did not audibly commend Itachi on their successful mission, Itachi could clearly see the relief on the Sandaime's face when the hokage found out that two Akatsuki members were eliminated. The hokage ordered Itachi to go get rest.

Itachi made his way to his apartment out of the Uchiha compound. He was too stressed to go back to the compound. He did not realize how much his muscles ached and the small bruises that were starting to blemish his skin. Itachi dipped inside his shower and than ate a granola bar. He tried to sleep for hours but he could not lose consciousness.

The Uchiha heir did not know what compelled him to leave his apartment but after jumping on rooftops, he found himself outside of Sakura's house. He internally argued with himself if he should enter her home or just make his way back to his apartment. It was nearly midnight, she was probably sleeping as he felt her presence behind her walls. When he entered her bedroom through her patio window, Itachi nearly laughed when he realized she was in the bathroom taking a shower. It was déjà vu.

He waited for Sakura to come out and sighed when she came out fully clothed. She looked exhausted, as she probably just came back from the hospital. Although she was clearly disturbed and distressed, he knew that she had healed Genma and Genma was going to be all right. His shoulders slightly relaxed at the conclusion.

She was running her eyes over his body, obviously scanning for any injuries. When he saw her stance slightly waver he quickly made his way over to her. She asked him if he was injured, and sighed in relief and relaxed her forehead on his chest at his response. Sakura was instantly asleep seconds later. Itachi wanted to glare at the medic's carelessness with her health but instead picked her up and brought her to her bed. She had a rather strong grip on his shirt and refused to let go.

He could have easily removed her from his body and left but dipped onto the bed next to her. When Sakura felt him lay next to her she instantly curled to his side and buried her face in his chest. The smell of flowers and cream overfilled his nostrils. What he should have done was leave. What he did was wrap an arm around Sakura's waist and bring her closer. He felt comfort and serenity. He fell asleep right away, the fastest in a really long time.

When Itachi felt Sakura shifting, his eyes automatically opened as he stared at the pinkette. Her skin was paler than before and dark circles blemished the skin under her eyes. She looked sick. Knowing Sakura and sensing the very weak chakra within her, she probably lacked food in her stomach. He threw a glare and after she confirmed the emptiness in her stomach, he instantly went to her kitchen and grabbed herbal tea she always had in her fridge. She needed nutrients or she would only feel sicker.

He brought her tea upstairs and helped her drink the herbal tea, not trusting her weakened form to properly consume the nutritious drink or her stubborn attitude to deny it. He placed the half-drank glass on her side table and started inching away from the bed towards her glass doors linking to the patio. He felt a small tug on his shirt as he peeked over his shoulder to wide ivy eyes. "You can stay," Sakura whispered. I want you to stay. That was the very apparent hidden meaning behind her words.

She did not want to be alone. He could clearly see the pleading in her eyes. She was shaken from the events that happened. She was just as distressed as him. There was no reason for her to experience all the torment her face expressed as she was inside the safety of Konoha walls the entire time. It was him that should be feeling anguish. But she felt it too. She felt the anguish of almost losing a teammate. Genma was important to her too. Itachi's eyes softened.

He had hours to agonize over Genma's injures. Sakura had none. She was a medic. She was Genma's doctor and her sole focusing was to heal his wounds, not worry and fright over his injuries like a concerned teammate. Sakura had her emotions bottled up which were now pouring out from her tightly concealed heart.

He sat down on the corner of the bed and looked at Sakura. She was laying on her side, facing him with her big, expressive eyes. Her rose hair fanned out on her pillow that only beautified her already attractive features. She was looking up at him curiously. She obviously thought he was going to leave. Itachi thought he was going to leave. At least he surprised both of them with his actions. He threw his legs onto the bed and leaned down on his side, facing Sakura.

She was utterly beautiful under the moonlight that escaped through the windows. Sakura's skin looked smooth and creamy. Her hair contrasted with her white pillow and her ivy eyes glowed of emotion. Her full lips were slightly open as he could peek at her white teeth. She was completely faultless – physically and mentally.

"You look terrible," Sakura mumbled with a half smile. She was suffering from chakra exhaustion and joking about his appearance. How contradictory of her. A giggled escaped her lips at his 'hn'. "You know – 'hn' – has no proper meaning, although I'm convinced it's the official Uchiha phrase."

"The Uchiha have no official phrase."

A sweet melodic laugh filled Itachi's ears as he softened his gaze towards her. Her eyebrows rose challengingly and mischievously. "You know, if I didn't have to work a day for everytime I heard an Uchiha 'hn', I could have retire from practicing medicine three years ago."

"That would mean you could no longer fail psyche exams," Itachi challenged back with a smirk. Her slightly offended look brought a small victory.

Sakura rolled over so her back was against her mattress. Their eye contact was broken as the corners of Itachi's eyes creased at her pout and crossed arms. "I don't need to practice medicine to fail psyche exams," she retorted through her pout, "And you know what, I think it's time for you to go for another psyche exam. Your battle must've injured your cognitive abilities."

A small laugh escaped Itachi's lips. Sakura 'hmph-ed' at Itachi amusement. She made no movements to face him. Itachi observed Sakura from his angle. Her adorable pout was still present on her lips and her eyes closed. Her form was still, as if thinking that any physical movements from her would bring him strange pleasure.

Sakura did not remain still for long. Her eyes quickly opened as she sat up and faced him. Her big, wild eyes looked at him in shock and curiousness. "Your stomach," she said. Itachi raised an eyebrow. Was that a question or a statement? "The gash," Sakura described, "That horrible gash must've left a scar."

How random. Of all the things that could be running through the pinkette's head, she was thinking of his injury. He nodded. It did leave a scar. "Can I see it?" Sakura asked tentatively.

Itachi slowly lifted his shirt, exposing the still fresh scar that adorned his abs. He gazed at Sakura, whose full attention was on his new scar. Her hand reflexively glowed green as she brought it to his scar. His stomach instantly felt a soothing coolness. The pinkness of the scar slowly abated but the scar remained still intact on his abs.

Sakura broke out in a wide grin. She was grinning at his scar – a scar he received from a dangerous battle against the Akatsuki. What a bizarre kunoichi. With almost uncanny speed, Sakura lifted her shirt slightly above her belly button, exposing her toned, flat stomach. She pointed at a discolored lesion on her midriff with a dainty finger. "Look, we have matching scars on our stomach from Akatsuki battles," Sakura said with a bright smile on her face.

Itachi paused at her statement. She knew he battled the Akatsuki. Tsunade probably informed her during healing Genma or she put two and two together. She was a smart kunoichi. Sakura probably did not know that their mission of patrolling the borders was a cover-up for hunting and bringing down the Akatsuki.

Her mood completely contrasted to Itachi's mood. When he saw the scar, he saw the pain and blood that was associated with it. He was not one of the nins who proudly displayed their scars as prizes from battles. Itachi came to peace with that fact that in his life as a shinobi, he would be marred with scars, but was not fond of proudly displaying them like gold. These scars represented battles, wars, hate, and death. He felt uncomfortable with all those representations.

Itachi grazed his fingers on her scar. He felt Sakura shiver at his touch. His cold fingers contrasted with her warm stomach. He almost wanted to pull his hands away from Sakura's skin, fearing that his coldness would transfer to Sakura. The scar did not suit Sakura. Sakura was a healer, she should not be blemished with scars.

He heard about Sakura's battle again Sasori, a missing-nin puppeteer from Suna who joined the Akatsuki. She was fifteen, he believed, when she defeated Sasori. Itachi remembered the Sandaime mentioning it quickly. To say Itachi was surprised would be a slight understatement. After Sasuke defected with Orochimaru, Itachi had little to no interest on keeping tabs on his Otouto's teammates. He knew Naruto left to train with Jiraiya and Sakura had become Tsunade's apprentice, but other than little details that he heard his teammates or clansmen murmur, Itachi knew little to nothing of the skill sets of Sasuke's former teammates.

The last time Itachi saw Sakura before hearing her victory over the Akatsuki member, she was still the weak and dependent member of team seven who had a desperate crush on Sasuke. Itachi rarely spoke to the pinkette back then and could not understand why a girl from a civilian family wanted to be a shinobi. She had good chakra control and was good with genjutsu, but made a rather bad kunoichi. He predicted that she would not continue the shinobi path after the chunin exams and Sasuke's defection. But she surprised him when she chose to continue being a kunoichi. After Itachi first learned of her apprenticeship as a medical-nin under Tsunade, it was years until he saw her again.

He often wondered how a little pink-haired healer could defeat an Akatsuki member back then. Curiosity got the better of him and he went to observe her train. She definitely was not the weak and dependent teammate. She was strong and extremely talented and had so much potential to become one of the best kunoichi in the village. Just from his observations, he understood how she was able to defeat an Akatsuki member. From that day, Itachi promised to never doubt the pinkette ever again.

"Stop brooding," Sakura teased as she laid on her side again, facing Itachi. "It's just a scar. It doesn't hurt anymore," Sakura stated with a huff. Brooding? He was not brooding. Sure, he did not appreciate the scar on her body but he was admiring her skill sets. "Guess it's about time," Sakura said with a grin as she pulled the covers to her chin. "You finally defeated an Akatsuki member. About time you caught up to me."

Itachi nearly scoffed. "I am above you."

"Cocky and arrogant, the rumors are true about you," Sakura countered, not edging away from his challenge.

"Rumors?"

Sakura sighed, almost rolling her eyes. "Yes, the thousands of rumors about you."

Itachi returned her confident look, and lowly asked, "Tell me Sakura, what do the thousands of rumors say about me?"

He watched her caught off guard for a moment before she rolled onto her stomach and leaned on her elbows. "Well, other then you eating small, innocent bunnies for dinner," Itachi smirked at her jab, "rumor has it that you have an obsession with long hair. That's why you keep your hair long and uncut." Sakura tapped her finger on her lip, bringing Itachi's attention back to those lips. "There's another rumor circulating throughout Konoha stating that you only go on mission outside of Konoha because you're meeting up with your man-lover."

Itachi could not help to not to conceal a mixture of disdain and offense written on his face. "I do have a man-lover outside of Konoha."

Sakura giggled tauntingly. "Whatever you say Itachi. You sure do have a lot of man-lovers inside Konoha. You'd be surprised how diversified your fan club is."

Itachi chose to ignore her jaunting smile and giggles at his scornful countenance. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the teasing kunoichi beside him. He quite literally got into bed with a minx and he walked right into his defeat. He almost forgot how tired he was. The hokage wanted to meet him late afternoon tomorrow. Itachi was glad the Sandaime gave him time off.

Sakura laughed some more at his ignorance of her. She snuggled up to him, wrapping an arm around his waist. "Don't pout," Sakura softly advised. He was not pouting. He did not pout. The humor through her voice was overwhelming.

Itachi felt so warm. Sakura would have never concluded that she would be snuggling with Itachi. They were providing each other mutual comfort, Sakura concluded. She was so tired but she could not let the opportunity for teasing the Uchiha pass. An arm pulled her into his chest into almost a protective embrace.

"Sleep," Itachi lowly commanded. Sakura closed her eyes, instantly falling asleep. The last thing she remembered was Itachi's warm body pressed against hers and the slow beating of his heart.

It's just you and I tonight,

Why don't you figure my heart out?

-The 1975 "Heart Out"

There we go, another chapter! I had half of this written before I moved into my dorm and while I was starting to unpack, this wonderful idea hit me and I had to take a mini-break to write it out. So, instead of unpacking like a good college student, I'm sitting on my bed (that hasn't even been covered yet) writing like a man-woman. I almost submitted this chapter without adding the lyrical quotes in.

Hope you enjoyed all the ItaSaku moments. My originally plan for this chapter was it to be all in Sakura POV and Itachi still out hunting down the borders. I was so adamant about making you all suffer with no Itachi in this chapter… but I caved and had him return to Konoha. I have absolutely no self-control.

It was mid February in the storyline. I honestly do not know what the next chapter is going to be about but don't expect it anytime soon. College is about to start, I'm going to be trying to focus classes with an internship. I just want to warn everyone not to worry if the next chapter doesn't come out for a while.

A lot of you guys predicted Sakura was going to be joining hunter-nun while Itachi was away. It was a good guess, but Sakura will not be joining the hunter-nun... yet. SPOILER ALERT! Hint-hint-nudge-nudge. More will be explored in later chapters. I'm curious though, what do you guys think will happen? Let me know.

Thanks for reading, hope you lovely guys enjoyed the read. Thank you for all the sweet reviews, it fills my heart with joy.

Until next time

-im-rite-here