DON'T SKIP REAL QUICK...if you ever read these AN's then please read the one at the end. Ok so quick explanation...last week i had a complete blonde moment and uploaded chapter 9 because it was at the bottom of the add chapter list, when chapter 10 got bumped to the top spot...hence the confusion :) yes i'm a little special but thankfully to some reviewers i caught it quickly from checking my email and i fixed it. Thank you guys!
Sasuke groaned rubbing his head sluggishly. It felt like he had Chouji bulldoze him last night, again, and again, and again…what the hell happened?
"Don't sit up." He heard Sakura's voice near him, "You're going to be a little achy so take it slow. There's food and water when you're ready."
Sakura turned to check on Sai to see him rubbing sleep from his eyes as well.
"Take it slow Sai. Your body will ache."
"Where are we?" he asked slowly opening his eyes. From the brightness and the high position of the sun he figured it was closing in on mid-day.
"We're at the bend in the river, the abort area," Sakura replied.
"Aa."
"Sakura what about the mission?" Sasuke asked running his fingers through his hair.
"We have a prisoner but it's not Tetsu," she replied.
Sasuke detected something in her voice…shame…disappointment…something along those lines.
"Help me up," he told her.
Sakura rolled her eyes, would it be too much to even suggest that Sasuke not order her around; especially when he did feel a little weaker than her. But she shrugged it off, he couldn't help his old habits of bossing her around since they were Genin.
"Sai you want up too?" Sakura asked her other comrade.
"Yes," he replied extending his hand for her. Sakura lifted him gently and leaned his back against the tree next to Sasuke.
"Here, both of you eat, it's just rabbit," Sakura handed both men a skewer with rabbit meat as well as a canteen of water. "Drink a lot of water too we only have three canteens to share since Naruto and Kakashi didn't grab our packs before they left the city."
Naruto sighed across the camp fire, "Come on Sakura-chan we told you why already."
Sasuke just grunted at Naruto before his eyes locked onto someone he didn't recognize. Male, probably early to mid-twenties, relatively decent build with sleek dirty blonde hair tied in a small ponytail at the back of his head, sharp cheekbones, and the nastiest silver eyes he had ever seen. But what made the hair on his neck stand on end was the fact that his menacing glare was directed at one person in their group…Sakura.
"Don't mind him Sasuke," Sakura called his attention away from their prisoner, "He's done nothing but leer at me since he woke up and refused treatment."
The raven haired Uchiha just grunted signifying he understood but didn't like it one bit. Sakura was important to Konoha, to the team, and more importantly she was very important to his brother. With the glares he was sending her way Sasuke automatically put this captive on his shit list.
"He said anything?" Sai asked staring blankly at the hog tied man. They had bound his hands and feet and obviously saw fit to stuff his mouth with a gag.
"You don't want to know," Naruto answered sending a very non-friendly glare at the silver eyed man.
"Explain," Sasuke demanded tossing his finished skewer into the burning fire.
"Oh that won't be necessary you'll hear everything he has to say once we have to force feed him," Kakashi strode in casually with his nose in the infamous orange book and a bandana full of berries, "Here everyone eat up, it's gonna be a long journey and we're not stopping until we get home. Sasuke, Sai how are you feeling."
"I can travel easily," Sai answered stretching out his cramped arms and legs.
Sasuke grunted, "Give me a solider pill and I'll be fine."
Sakura eyed him a moment, "Sasuke let me check you out. If you need a solider pill it'd be better not to travel to strenuous."
"I'm fine Sakura," he argued half-heartedly but didn't stop her from examining him, "my chakra is just a little low."
Sasuke's attention was instantly diverted the moment Sakura shot her healing chakra into his chest. The prisoner began writhing on the ground screaming some type of profanity that never made it out of his mouth because of the gag. Sasuke automatically activated his sharingan but even without it he could tell his unbridled hatred was directed at the pink haired kunoichi currently working on him.
"Hey asshole, quit making a raucous or I'm going to have to knock you out again!" Naruto yelled steadying the man against the flat side of a large boulder.
Sakura pointedly ignored the man paying full attention to examining Sasuke's body, "You should be fine, it seems the poison took a greater toll on your chakra system than it did on Sai's. My guess is because you had more flowing through your body because your sharingan was activated."
"Why does that matter? And what the hell is his problem?" he asked glaring at the man preparing to knock him out with his eyes.
Sakura sighed, "He thinks me working on you is some type of…let's just say he doesn't like kunoichis and I mean any kind of kunoichis. As for why that matters, it is because Tetsu's poison enters through the chakra points on the body. His hands were right on your neck very close to your eyes where your sharingan chakra is concentrated. When he injected you, it sapped up more chakra because at the time you had more pumping through your system unlike Sai."
"If we're going to be traveling for a while we should feed him now so we won't have to until we stop tonight," Naruto commented glaring at the man who still wouldn't take his eyes off Sakura.
Kakashi sighed slipping the book into his weapons pouch, "You're right…I'd rather not have to deal with it but…"
"Just do it," Sakura stood and stared at the prisoner with indifference, "Not like I haven't heard his insults before."
Naruto sighed then sent Sakura an apologetic look, "We'll do it if you wanna go…take a break or something."
Rosy lips turned into a small smile at her friend, "I'll break down the camp and work on my selective hearing skills."
"Naruto grab the canteen and a couple bites of meat," Kakashi ordered kneeling next to prisoner. When the man didn't meet his gaze Kakashi grabbed his chin and forced eyes contact, "We're going to feed you now and we can either do this the easy way or the hard way. If you choose to be extremely difficult then we won't give you anything."
The man couldn't answer since the gag prevented him but Kakashi interpreted the narrowing of his eyes to mean he was probably going to be difficult. Naruto crouched down beside him holding the items waiting for Kakashi to lower the gag. Taking another deep breath the gag was lowered and their prisoner jerked his head out of Kakashi's grip and began cursing the pink haired kunoichi.
"You traitorous, whoring, bitch!" he screamed at her, "Wait until I get my hands on you and I'll show you pain like you've never experienced before in your life!"
Naruto cut off the rapid words with a piece of meat while Kakashi held him still. Sasuke and Sai's eyes both narrowed dangerously…so this is why they didn't want to talk about it. Sakura, like she said, pointedly ignored the men on the opposite side of the camp while she put out the fire with water then covered it with dirt, effectively erasing all traces of their camp.
"You father was a fucking coward for abandoning the clan like he did!" he went on before another piece of meat was shoved into his mouth.
Breathe…don't listen…just in one ear and out the other.
Can I pleeeeeease strangle him it would honestly make my day!
Not yet, he needs to be interrogated.
Let us do it! We can get all sort of information out of that bastard's mouth.
No…remember when I tried healing some wounds so they wouldn't get infected?
Yes he was worse than cat on bath day.
I don't want to be anywhere near this…whatever at least Naruto is choking him with water, that makes me feel better.
If only it was me…the inner sighed with amusement.
Kakashi let the man cough out the excess of water before immediately replacing the gag in order to prevent more him from speaking. Instead he just went back to glaring…at Sakura…again.
"Naruto hand me that canteen I'll wash it and check for contaminants," Sakura held her hand out for one Naruto fed to their prisoner.
The glare that was typical on his face changed into the best resemblance of a wicked smirk. Once Sakura had the canteen in hand the prisoner chuckled darkly and she checked the water for any type of poisonous substance he may have injected via chakra into the canteen. Typically they would just designate one canteen to a captive but since they were short they couldn't spare the three that they had. So for now, Sakura was the designated poison checker since they have been unable to determine what exactly he can do since anytime he was ungagged nothing but profanities towards Sakura and her father came out of his mouth. Sakura theorized that Tetsu had ultimately scorned her name and her father from the clan painting them out at the scum of the earth because of her father's desertion. In conclusion Sakura determined that family drama just plain sucks.
"Move out," Kakashi called picking up the prisoner and slinging him over his shoulder with his hands and feet behind his back, "We will take turns carrying the package as we travel. Naruto will be next, then Sai, and Sasuke you will be last since you need the most recovery time. Keep your eyes open for enemies they may be tracking us to recover our captive."
Said captive grunted and fidgeted on Kakashi's shoulder.
"I think that means Kaka-sensei, that our prisoner doesn't think he's getting a rescue anytime soon," Sakura said with a sarcastic tone.
"Doesn't matter keep your eyes open," Kakashi commanded then took off into the trees.
In took the allotted day and a half until the large welcoming gates of their beloved village was in view and Sakura wanted to sigh with relief…that is, if her body wasn't stiff because of the tension rolling off of her. Needless to say her patience had been tested to the max; between the glares, the insults, and the constant killer intent wafting off their prisoner, Sakura was fit to be tied. The only thing she wanted to do was change, report to Tsunade about their mission, and take the longest…warmest bath in the history of baths. And then to finish it off she wanted to dig into her freezer and pull out that container of chocolate Haagan Das ice cream that she could hear screaming at her.
"Oi Teme, let me carry that bastard in," Naruto walked over holding his hand out for the prisoner.
"Why?"
"Because I was undercover and helped capture this lunatic so I want to carry him in," he argued.
"Sasuke just hand him over," Sai commented with a half-smile, "Naruto's wearing a blue yukata around his body to preserve his modesty. I'm sure after this mission his manhood has been seriously tested so why not indulge him."
Sasuke smirked as Naruto's face tinged red with anger, "I supposed the fool is right for once."
Sasuke unceremoniously dropped the tied man making him grunt, but he didn't feel the least bit sad about it. He'd heard enough out of that bastard's mouth to last him a lifetime. How anyone could be that sexist and that…he didn't even want to think about it. Stealing a glance at Sakura he saw her tense form fighting to keep herself in check. He knew she didn't want to appear weak or even affected by the crude remarks and insults coming out of the captive's mouth. And it probably didn't help one bit that she was unable to change out her red yukata the entire time. So she kept a blank visage with only the occasional narrowing of the eyes to show her emotions. He had to admit he was impressed her stoic expression, but then again…seeing her as such always left a bad taste in his mouth. This wasn't Sakura…maybe Itachi can cheer her up. He would definitely send his brother over to her house when he got home.
The group walked up to the check in booth where Izumo and Kotetsu sat.
"Well Naruto," Kotetsu eyeing him with amusement, "Setting a new trend?"
The blonde growled, "Can it Kotetsu."
"Oh touchy subject eh?" Izumo chuckled lightly.
"He left his bag behind and after playing a whore and he didn't have anything left to change into," Sai offered a smile with the explanation.
"SAI YOU ASS!" Naruto yelled swinging their prisoner at his comrade. Sai easily evaded and backed up towards Sakura.
Izumo whistled then, "Damn Sakura, I take it Naruto forgot your clothes too?"
"She's taken," Sasuke growled and stepped in front of their immediate line of sight blocking her from view.
Kotetsu put his hands up, "Oh we know, now worries there Sasuke."
"All signed in," Kakashi placed the pen down, "Let's go, we have to turn him into intelligence and report to the Hokage."
The team turned as a collective whole as Naruto hoisted the prisoner onto his shoulder slouching slightly under the weight. Sakura walked behind the group with Kakashi lost in her thoughts.
He mind drifted back to the encounter at Akane when she and Naruto were in the room with Tetsu. He knew her…he knew things about her and more than she thought he would know. When she brought it up to them last night they all came to the same conclusion…she was being watched inside the village. And this spy was making regular reports about her. Tetsu knew she didn't really crack his poison but at least had a healthy understanding of it. He suspected her team was with her probably even before she entered into the room to meet with him. He just knew more about her than she felt comfortable with him knowing. And if he knew about her team and she was being spied on then he probably knew about her medic team and he most definitely knew about Itachi.
She sighed, I failed…
Not yet.
We had him…right there at our fingertips and I choked…
We choked together out of shock. Don't worry too much over it, we will get another chance.
Not after that promise…"I'll be seeing you soon."
Alright so we need to be more cognizant about our surroundings and we should probably let Itachi know.
No! He's the last person who should know. Can you imagine how controlling and protective we will become if he were to find out! He's bloody ANBU, he will be gone a lot more than I will be and I can't have him distracted with things happening or not happening here with me and be the cause of some serious injury or death!
Inner growled, So what is you plan then? Just wait the bastard out and see if he comes to you?
Yes for now. We will wait and follow leads and not choke the next time. I will NOT have another member of my team fall to his poison while I stand idly by like a scared child!
Point taken…fine.
Sakura rubbed her arms even though she wasn't cold. Tetsu said he would see her soon which meant she probably wouldn't be able to find him even if she tried. If he could keep her in the dark for this long who's to say he couldn't do it again. Kami it was frustrating…first she lets him go and now she has to wait. Not to mention he has eyes on her not like that was very comforting to her senses. These spies too…they have been around for a while if his tone was anything to go by; probably even started when she first manifested her bloodline to him. He was ready to leave that night in her dream without a second's hesitation once her mother lit up the seal. Then why was he choosing to act now? Was her protection from the Hokage suddenly up? Did the seal need to be replaced? Or was there…
A subtle growl emanated from their prisoner and Sakura glanced up to tell him what for. She wasn't going to take this from him in her home village and he was going to shut up if he knew what was good for his self-preservation. But when she looked up to meet his hard silver eyes, for once, they weren't looking at her. Instead she followed his line of sight to see him glaring at two kunoichi who were standing in a shaded alleyway. The growl had also caught their attention and she watched as they both looked up with their eyes widening in recognition. Like trained shinobi they quickly scanned their immediate surroundings and both saw Sakura's eyes narrowing at them.
"Sasuke, Sai, Naruto, Kakashi kunoichi spies to 8 o'clock!" She shouted ripping the prisoner from Naruto grasp and slamming him into the ground.
Once Sakura's voice rang out the older of the two women grasped the younger one covered in a traveling cloak.
"Run little sister they can't catch you!" she gripped the petite arms shoving her aside.
"They know you too, leave with me please nee-san!"
Electric blue eyes, so much like her own, closed in resignation, "My time is up, now run, Kaminari RUN!"
She bolted into the alleyway just as one blonde and one raven haired man descended towards their location. Her sister just stood there not fighting, as the two other men gripped her hands behind her back and tying her. Pulling the hood of the cloak tighter around her body Kaminari sprinted through the streets determined not to get caught…she couldn't get caught. She needed to stay alive and out of the sights of the Konoha nin. Ugh…she really hated her life sometime. Being the damned communicator between the spies Tetsu hid in the village and the clan really made her hate life. For one, she was always around the leader of the clan and being around the leader of the clan meant she was usually in his bed or his twisted son's since they were always together. Kami…if only her life were different. She'd give anything to pretend to be a normal shinobi like her sister…but now was not the time to think about that. She was being pursued by two high level shinobi and if her eye sight was correct one had red eyes. Tetsu told her there was only one clan in the village with eyes like that; the Uchiha's and they were not to be underestimated.
Knowing she didn't have a lot of time left and that if she stayed on this course more shinobi would either join the chase or she was going to run into a dead end around this next bend. Her latter prediction was correct she was cornered between two buildings and wall. She turned quickly and saw both men standing at the ready one with kunai and one with a sword.
"Come quietly with us, we don't want to use force," the blonde man spoke in a placating but no nonsense tone.
"I can't," she replied her head bowed, "I can't be taken yet."
"You don't have a choice," the raven haired man told her next.
She sighed in slight amusement, "I don't do I? I never did…since the day I was born I've never had a choice…why would I get one now?"
Sasuke and Naruto both paused at her statement and exchanged quick confused glances before looking up. Eyes narrowed in confusion and alert as the sky darkened above them.
"Thunder…and lightening…we are one…and they are the only things I could ever rely on. The only tangible things I could trust," the hooded girl whispered as if in prayer.
Sasuke and Naruto backed up seeing her body becoming charged with electricity. She lifted her head and removed her hood staring both shinobi in the eye.
"So long…" she smiled sadly before disappearing in a strike of lightening.
Naruto and Sasuke stood wide eyed at her disappearance. They only had a second to take her in before she just…vanished. Pale skin with thick, wavy, maroon hair with pale skin and electric blue eyes, petite frame if her clothing was any suggestion. But there was something…something in her eyes that held them still as she disappeared. She looked resigned, lost, but hopeful at the same time, like she was waiting for her pitiful existence to end.
"Let's get back Sasuke," Naruto turned and began retracing his steps back to his team.
Sakura yanked the prisoner from Naruto's grasp and slammed him into the ground.
"Who else is here you son of a bitch?" she yelled sitting on top of his bound body.
The man just grinned through the gag which she promptly ripped down around his throat.
"Answer my fucking question!" she slammed his head into the ground.
"Not in your life you whoring bitch," he ground out blinking away the black dots in his vision, "I don't talk to conniving traitorous kunoichi's like you. Not after what your father did to us."
"I don't give a rat's ass about old clan politics you will answer my questions either on this damned street or strapped to a torture table!"
"I'll take the damned table," he smirked at her only to receive a hard punch to his face.
"How many?" she yelled.
When he didn't answer she hit him again.
"How many of you sons of bitches are watching me?" she yelled again.
"Only if you screw me first," he smiled through bloody teeth.
Sakura continued socking the man in the face taking out all of the past day's frustrations with each punch. Every insult, every jibe, every glare, her failure, her helplessness, everything was getting taken out on their prisoner. She didn't even care if she broke his jaw…she was going to keep going until she was sufficiently satisfied.
Kakashi watched his favorite kunoichi vent out all of her frustrations on her prisoner and he was going to let her. This case…this mission was personal for her. Everything revolving around this man Tetsu was going to be personal until it was over. He had half a mind to let her continue but they needed to interrogate him so with a quick movement he left Sai with their recent captive. He expected more of a resistance when he grabbed her wrist expecting some chakra behind it but there wasn't. She was literally just beating the shit out of him with her own physical strength, knowing that if she broke his jaw they wouldn't be able to interrogate him later. He could've smiled at the situation except this wasn't the appropriate time. Sakura's face was twisted in a mix of agony and rage while the man kept a twisted smile on his now misshapen face.
"You really do hit like a girl," he spat his blood over her face, "Tetsu used to talk about you a lot. He said after he finished with you, we'd all get our turn."
"Only in your wildest dreams," she threatened gripping his collar with her other hand.
"Oh I'll be dreaming alright," he gave her a once over before whispering with malicious glee, "You have no idea how closely watched you are. To say you have every man salivating over your body would be an understatement. You really know how to pose for a picture especially in the shower. What do you think Tetsu was doing after he slaughtered your mother? He gets off while watching you."
Sakura's eyes widened before narrowing dangerously with silver quickly leaking into her eyes. With a loud yell she slammed both hands on either side of his head causing the ground to rumble around them.
The man just laughed at her anger, "You don't scare me kunoichi. My only regret is that now that I'm captured, I won't be one of the men to tame your fiery spirit. Although once Tetsu is done with you, you will be very welcoming of the other more…pleasant company."
With a loud screeching yell Sakura twisted her fist back prepared to slaughter this man right in the middle of the street. She didn't get to fulfill her desire as she was suddenly yanked up by a pair of strong unyielding arms belonging to her sensei.
"I'll kill you, you son of a bitch! And anyone who thinks they can do whatever they want to me!" she screamed and thrashed in Kakashi's arms.
The prisoner just continued to laugh at her antics; yep he would definitely be missing out. She was such spirited, sensual being without even realizing it…such a shame to lose out on her creamy luscious body.
Naruto and Sasuke arrived back on scene to see a small crowd of civilians and shinobi watching as Sakura went crazy in Kakashi's grip. Another glance told them Sai knew exactly what happened since his eyes were narrowed dangerously at the cackling prisoner.
Shit…they both thought. Sakura had finally blown…that sick sadist had gotten under her skin. Without another thought Naruto jogged up to Kakashi and took the flailing kunoichi from his arms and held her close.
"Shhh Sakura it's going to be fine," Naruto tried consoling her but she wasn't having any of it. She was royally pissed.
"Fine? FINE? What about this situation is going to be fine Naruto, tell me!" she screamed against his arms.
He sighed holding her tightly as she calmed down to a shaking heap.
"He's already got you," the bloody captive called out to her, "Just wait…as soon as you start to heal again he will destroy it. So if you want my advice just stay as pitiful and as scared as you are or else..."
Kakashi slammed his fist into the bloody already beaten side of the prisoner's face sufficiently knocking the man unconscious.
"Naruto," Kakashi picked up unconscious man, "Take her home. Both of you clean up, change, and meet at Hokage Tower to report in an hour."
"Hai, Kaka-sensei," Naruto nodded steering Sakura away from the street.
"Go home Naruto," she whispered breaking out of his hold.
"I'm walking you home first," he told her stubbornly following her.
"I'm not a child Naruto! I will be fine on my own!" she wheeled around to scream at him barely keeping tears at bay, "I'll be fine I just need…I need…" she couldn't finished her sentence…she didn't have the words. Just like back in Akane…she couldn't find the words then either. What was wrong with her?
She looked up at Naruto with large eyes shining with unshed tears only to see him smile softly; except he wasn't looking at her but over her shoulder. Before she could turn around a large hand held her shoulder while the other led an equally strong, but comforting arm around her waist pulling her into lean muscular chest. Dark raven hair tickled her cheek followed by a smooth cheek brushed against hers in an affectionate manner.
"Itachi…" she breathed melting into him.
"I take it you got it from here?" Naruto asked not really expecting an answer.
With a small nod from the tall Uchiha Naruto jumped onto the nearby roof and headed towards home.
Itachi held her close supporting most of her weight and he was content to just hold her and let her just be…until he felt small droplets of water land on the hand on her shoulder. Tears, he concluded turning her around to face him.
"Let's take you home," he whispered gently wiping the tear track away from her cheek.
She nodded slightly and followed obediently not saying a word their entire walk, wiping the specks of blood her assailant spit off her face. Once she entered into the house she froze immediately putting him instantly on guard. Flipping through a quick series of hand signs Sakura slammed her hands flat to the ground and watched as her green chakra wove through her entire house before stopping at various parts throughout the house pulsing.
"Collect everything that pulses with my chakra and bring them to the coffee table," she told him with a hard expression.
He nodded wordlessly and strode upstairs while Sakura walked into the sitting room. Automatically activating his doujutsu he spotted the first small chakra flare and removed it from the wall. Closely examining the object he realized it was a small camera. Red eyes narrowed dangerously as he continued to search the upstairs finding more cameras in the bedroom and bathroom. Anger was slowly building inside of him. Someone had placed these inside her house and even had the sick pleasure of placing three in the bathroom making sure they covered every angle. He grip tightened around the small black objects as he descended the stairs slowly. He immediately spotted Sakura sitting on the couch with more black cameras on the coffee table. Itachi opened his hand and dropped the rest of the cameras on the table.
Sakura sighed, "Seven huh, let me guess, one in the hall three in the bedroom and the bathroom."
Itachi only nodded not trusting himself to speak.
"Sick bastard," she muttered running her hands through her hair. Without another word Sakura stood up, readjusting the sleeve of our revealing yukata, and stormed off into the kitchen. She returned after banging around in the other room only to return with a large metal mixing bowl and proceeded to put every camera into the bowl.
After she finished she glanced up at Itachi, "Burn them please."
With a quick series of hand signs fire shot out of Itachi's mouth directly into the bowl. He held it for a few seconds before releasing just to stare at the flames. They both sat in silence watching the orange flames dance around the bowl. Occasionally a small crack was heard as the glass on the outside of the lens would break allowing the fire to spread to destroy the rest of the offending object. Unable to sit there anymore Sakura stood up and ran upstairs. Itachi waited a few more minutes making sure the fire died down, and then followed her up and into her room.
When he entered Sakura was sitting at her vanity running a brush roughly through her pink locks. Her eyes were hard as she stared at herself in the mirror. He noticed the red yukata and silver obi lay in a heap right by the door to her closet and she had changed into her typical fitted shorts, and a black tank. The brush slammed against the wooden table drawing his attention back to her hard eyes. She continued staring at herself before slamming her fist into the mirror shattering it to pieces. Itachi walked up behind her and lifted her away from the chair and away from the broken glass.
"You know," he said softly not wanting to shock her, "If you're superstitious that means seven years of bad luck."
She gave him a very un-lady like snort, "I seem to be swimming in bad luck right now."
They sat side by side on the edge of her bed. "When is your meeting with the Hokage?"
Green eyes found the clock in her room, "Thirty minutes."
They sat in silence again Itachi not knowing what to say and Sakura not knowing how to start. She was angry, furious even, but she didn't want to involve him. She didn't want him to worry and fret over her while he has his own problems. But the not talking was driving her absolutely crazy. She usually could vent her feelings to her mother, but she wasn't here…she wasn't here because of Tetsu. Tetsu wasn't in custody because she froze on her mission, because she was…weak.
Standing up she grabbed her nearby lamp off her night stand and threw it against the wall. When the base didn't break she picked it up again and broke it between her two hands. Letting the shards fall between her fingers she just stood there watching small amounts of blood swell up onto the palms of her hands. She didn't heal it and she didn't want to. The small prickles of pain oddly relaxed her and distracted her from the inner turmoil that she was feeling.
She felt Itachi's hands grip firmly on her shoulders, "Heal your hands."
"I…I don't want to…" she whispered clenching them into a fist. The pain doubled and the blood flowed more freely but she didn't care. She wouldn't care if it got infected, wouldn't care if it stayed as a bleeding heap because she needed this pain as her punishment for failure.
He turned her to face him and tilted her head up, "Please…heal your hands."
Her troubled eyes stared back into his onyx depths and she could see it, his hurt to see her like this and not know why. Finding those cameras had definitely put him on edge and her behavior was obviously not helping anything. She should have just left that job for later when he wasn't around to see it, but…just the knowledge that Tetsu placed cameras in her home and was watching her…it just couldn't wait until later. She wasn't going to indulge that sadist anymore, she was going to find him, and either kill him or bring him to justice. What he was doing to her was wrong on so many levels and if her mother's letter was anything to go by, Sakura wasn't the only one suffering like this.
"The pain," she looked back down, "It's a nice distraction."
"But not a good distraction," he replied holding both of her hands in his, "Tell me what's troubling you."
She only shook her head.
"Don't keep secrets from me Sakura, I'll find out from others if I have to."
Her eyes narrowed, "Don't you dare!"
"I won't have to if you tell me," his hands gripped her arms tightly.
"It's nobody's business what this man is doing to me!"
"This man as you call him placed cameras in your home to watch you. How is that not any of my business?" he demanded.
"Because he did it to me and not to you!"
"You are mine!" he told her fiercely, "Anything that happens to you is my business!"
He finished his statement with kiss pressing his lips tightly against hers. At first Sakura struggled against him beating her bloody fists weakly against his chest until he took a few steps backward and slammed her back against the bedroom wall. Sakura's hands pushed in vain against him, trying to break his hold on her, to get him to back off and to just let her be mad! She just wanted to break something but with Itachi so close she didn't want to hurt him even accidentally. Maybe he knew that which was why he wasn't letting her move one inch away from him. She couldn't just stay here, she had to get away! She needed time to sort out her thoughts and get her damn temper under control. But the more she pushed against him the more he didn't give in and she realized that he never would. He was here for her, he could be her confidant since her mother was gone, he was her rock, her foundation…he was hers. Slowing her hands that were once trying to push him away were now pulling him closer closing the small space leaving nothing in between them.
Itachi recognized her change immediately and loosen the grip on her arms only to wrap around her, helping her close the distance between their needy bodies. Their kiss deepened from the tight unforgiving pressure to passionate mating of their tongues. Before she knew it Sakura had crawled up the wall so they were now face to face with her legs hooked around his firm hips.
Feeling her body inch its way up sent very pleasurable sensations through him. So much so that he wanted to keep her right where they both met at the hips. Pure carnal instinct made his hands slide down to her sensual body as he rolled forward, pressing their lower bodies together and making his jewel shiver in pleasure and break the kiss for a second to gasp. But that feeling didn't last as she finished her ascension to lock her body just above where he wanted her. He was quickly distracted though when she held his head, threading her fingers through his hair, and slamming her mouth against his in haste.
Oh Kami he tasted so good. She savored every small moment with him letting her tongue linger at the corners of his mouth and lining his teeth. She loved it when he would subtly bite her tongue when she would slowly withdraw to breathe. Panting, only inches away from each other's flushed faces emerald met onyx and she noticed, through the beautiful black expanse, that his pupils were dilated and for some reason her clouded mind couldn't figure, that turned her one even more. Heated lips immediately went to her throat kissing and sucking on her creamy flesh sending her mind and body into clouded tizzy. Her hands tightened around his silky hair as she arched her body exposing more flesh for his pleasure.
Itachi took quick advantage of her offer bending over her sliding her lower to where he wanted her. He could feel her heat radiating through the thin tight black shorts she put on and he rolled into her again. This time instead of a gasp Sakura let out a quick moan then reciprocated the action in return. Itachi's eyes wanted to roll into the back of his head but nothing could match the flushed passion that adorned his kunoichi's beautiful face. He wanted to move, to get away from the wall that allowed for minimal movement and minimal contact. His thoughts immediately went to the bed but then again she had a meeting with the Hokage in a few minutes.
"As much as I…" he started.
"No…just, please."
Unlocking her feet from around his hips he set her slowly on her feet but still held her close to him. She sighed letting him once against support all of her weight letting herself just…go. He could feel her breathing become slightly irregular like she was taking a breath to speak then thought better of it and just let it out.
"If you're about to apologize, don't," he whispered nuzzling his face into her soft hair.
She let out an amused huff before grabbing his hand and leading him to sit on the bed, "When did you start to know me so well?"
Instead of answering he just pulled her into his lap and waited for her to begin talking.
"I wasn't actually going to apologize…well maybe…but it wasn't what you were thinking," she started while tracing absently the seams of his shirt, "I was going to apologize for those cameras…I shouldn't have let you see them."
"Why?"
She looked up and met his eyes before sighing and hiding in the crook of his neck, "I didn't want you to see me like that. I also didn't want you to be distracted. The missions are about to come in again and heavily at that. I wanted to keep you focused on your duty and not on me."
"While you were away the Hokage briefed ANBU on the situation. Turns out she has been communicating with the other Great Nations and they have had similar reports of border breaches and have lost shinobi to your poison. They've been read in on everything and Naruto and Bee are slowing down the jinchurikki candidates."
"That's not going to matter soon…" she whispered hoping he wouldn't hear her. But then again…this was Itachi of course he heard her.
"What do you mean?" he lifted her face from its hiding place to look up at him.
"Something Tetsu told me. I just have a feeling and knowing him, this would follow everything we know about him," she answered honestly.
Her wide eyes held him and he could see she believed what she said. Something happened on this mission and he wanted to know what, especially since Tsuande had informed their collective unit they would be hunting this man once they got their leads from Kakashi's team.
"Tell me what happened," he asked stroking her face with the calloused tips of his fingers.
She sighed enjoying the feeling of his fingers tracing her face, "A lot happened but at the same time a lot didn't happen. You know what I mean?"
He nodded.
"We found out Tetsu supplied women to that place the first day Naruto and I went undercover. I almost thought our cover was blown with the way the Madam was talking, but she accepted our story. For three days nothing really happened, we would try talking to the women there but they were so scared of Tetsu they wouldn't breathe a word about him. He's got them wound so tight that they feel like he's invincible. Anyway on the fourth day the Madam called me to meet with a client…" Itachi's grip tightened around her, "But Sasuke and I were able to cast a genjutsu on him and nothing happened. The day before though, one of the girls she was older about 25 or so said their time was up soon and replacements were coming to change them out. So even though Sasuke wanted us to pull out after that close attempt we stayed because we had a chance that our target was going to show up. And on day 5 he did. He figured out I was there with someone and he wanted to meet with us right away. Naruto and I walked into that room and it almost felt like I was looking at my dad. But then he started to speak and I know my father's voice could never sound so…impersonal. He always had a warmth to his voice, something to it that made a little girl just feel safe and loved. The real voice in that room made me freeze. The entire time he talked to me…I just…I couldn't do anything! I just stood there and listened to him and it wasn't until he started patronizing me that I could even form a damn word. He even admitted to having me watched. He…he was really upset and he blames me and my mother for my father leaving the clan. By that time the others jumped into the room and before we could even try to attack Tetsu had already neutralized Sai and Sasuke, and Sasuke had his sharingan activated. I got them both out of there because I knew they'd been poisoned, and Kakashi and Naruto defended us and captured a secondary target." Slow tears began to traces their way down her temples, "The trip home…well Naruto and I didn't have a change of clothes since we left in a hurry. The prisoner…" she growled wiping away her tears, "Was almost unbearable while transporting. Whether it's his own mindset and personality or not, he's one sexist bastard. When we got into the village he spotted two other people on the way that we determined were part of the spy network keeping tabs on me. And then he told me Tetsu setup cameras after he killed my mother. By that time I was…everything was just…"
Itachi leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead. He'd heard enough, and now all she needed was comfort. Tetsu was torturing her, slowly trying to break down any type of defense Sakura had placed around herself for protection. But even so she was still finding the strength to soldier on.
"What can I do?" she whispered letting the tears slide down her cheek, "He only shows up when he wants…when he has a plan…"
"No he doesn't," Itachi cut her off, "You caught him off guard with your recent mission. We have a lead, you followed your information and you were correct. ANBU are going to be going on missions based on your new information."
"He won't be there. He'll take all the girls and never return to that place…at least for a few years."
"Then we will follow. We have some of the best trackers here in Konoha, we will find him."
"What if I choke? I can't…I can't allow that again!" Sakura sat up and gripped the collar of his shirt for emphasis.
"Train with me," Itachi answered smoothly with an anticipatory glint in his eye, "Right now your heart is heavy, you are not at your best. And if you can best me at your lowest, then you will beat him at your best. And you will not fail."
Sakura's tears dried up instantly at his declaration. Not only was the Uchiha Itachi, prodigy, tactical genius was asking…no telling her to train with him, but she got the feeling it wasn't going to just be physical training. He was right, Sakura was at a low; Tetsu's spies had timed this perfectly, first with the poison done by Tetsu, next letting the problems with the Uchiha Elders fester, then the murder of her mother, and now with the knowledge that she's being watched by the same people daily…it had taken an extensive toll on her before she ever knew it. But not anymore…this, for her, ends now.
Itachi watched as the despair slowly but surely disappeared to be replaced by resolve. He continued to stare unabashedly as small flecks of silver swirled and complemented her bright emerald green.
"You promise you won't go easy on me?" she asked sitting tall on his lap.
He nodded with a smirk.
"I have a meeting with the Hokage to be de-briefed and judging by the time I'm about to pull a Kakashi if I don't leave soon. Despite everything I still feel the need to break something so when I'm done rearranging the scenery we will begin."
"I shall wait for you outside of Hokage Tower."
Ok here's the important AN. I want to get a poll. I have two directions that i can take this fic and i honestly cannot decide to save my life. So i figured why not let my awesome reviewers and readers pick for me. So here's the choice:
1) Sakura becomes and jinchuikki
2) Sakura narrowly escapes the sealing and the bijuu remains sealed
Let me know which you guys would rather see me write. It won't change HUGE plot lines that i have planned if some of you are worried. Let me know in a review or PM! PLEASE :D