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Chapter 9- It's good to be home

"Finally, home sweet home!"

Shisui and Sakura gave each other a high five and skipped towards the gates of Konoha.

"Shisui, guys don't high-five. Are you gay?" Genma mumbled.

Itachi smiled slightly as he saw how happy Sakura was. Genma looked at him and sighed.

"What?" Itachi asked.

"You. Her. And the hopelessness."

"What are you saying, Genma?" Neji asked weirdly.

"Hey, guys! I have to meet Sasuke and Naruto. I'll see you later!" Sakura smiled at them, though her gaze lingered on Itachi longer than the rest. He smiled back.

"I'll walk with you. Let's go," Shisui exclaimed. Genma almost expected him to add 'girlfriend!' after let's go.

Itachi turned back to Genma.

"Nothing's ever going to happen between you two if all you do is stare at the back of her head and smile. You have to actually do something," Genma told Itachi. "Something that will draw her towards you."

"And what do you suggest? I'm just a bit curious," Itachi asked casually. 'I'm not that arrogant. I know that in this situation, I need all the help I can get.'

"She should have your full attention at all times. Try to find out what she likes, and use that. Her favourite food, flowers, hobbies." Genma suggested like a pro. "Take her out as often as possible. Treat her like she's a precious gem. "

Itachi nodded. "I don't know why you think I need to do something. We are just friendly acquaintances." 'Alright, how am I going to find out all that?'

"Right. Friendly acquaintances. I'm sure," Genma snickered.

Itachi glared at him and shook his head, giving up. "Well, I'm going to head to Hokage-Sama's office. Good day."

With that Itachi took a different path and disappeared from their line of sight.

"Err...Genma? I was under the impression that Sakura already has feelings for Taichou," Neji stated cautiously.

"She does," Genma said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Then why did you tell Taichou to do all that?" Neji was confused.

"We can't make it easy for him, now can we? Captain or not, Sakura deserves to be treated like a princess," Genma declared.

"Is that all?"

"It's fun to mess with people in love."

Neji nodded. "I must go meet Tenten now. I will see you later."

Genma waved and started walking towards his favourite bar.

Team seven training grounds

"SAKURA-CHAAAAN. YOU'RE BACK! HOW WAS THE MISSION?"

"Stop shouting idiot. Sakura, Shisui," Sasuke greeted with a nod to both.

"Naruto! The mission was great. Those guys were so easy to beat, a bunch of Chunin could have handled it," Sakura said as she hugged Naruto. Shisui and Naruto bumped fists. 'Ow, my hand,' Shisui cried silently.

"Sasuke. How are you?" Sakura asked warmly as she hugged Sasuke next.

"I'm good," Sasuke muttered.

"Hey Sasuke-chan! What, no hug for me?" Shisui jokes.

"Shut up, Shisui," Sasuke snapped as Sakura and Naruto laughed.

"Well, I'm off! Bye, Sakura!" Shisui said happily.

"You two seem close," Naruto noted suspiciously.

"Yeah, Shisui can be an idiot at times but he's pretty great," Sakura said easily.

"So how about we go-" Naruto broke off as a crow flew over and landed on Sakura's shoulder. It had a scroll tied to it's left foot.

Sakura took the scroll and patted the crow's head. She opened it to see...

Sakura,

I know it's sudden but would you like to meet at the tea-house at five? It's right next to the flower shop, petals and love. I will understand if you have other matters to attend to

Itachi

'His handwriting is flawless. A bit girly though,' Sakura observed absentmindedly. She took out a pencil from her pouch and scribbled down a reply, and tied the scroll to the crow's foot.

"What was that? And as I was asking, do you wanna go for lunch?" Naruto asked as they watched the crow fly away.

"Sure, but I won't have much. I have to meet someone at Tenshi's tea-house at five," Sakura told him.

"Who?" Sasuke asked at once.

"Your brother."

With Itachi.

Itachi smiled as he looked at Sakura's reply.

Dear Itachi

Sure! See you at five!

-Sakura

"Well?"

Itachi looked at Tsunade and nodded. "She has agreed to meet me. Thank you for your suggestion." Tsunade smirked.

Flashback

"What a waste of my shinobi. Well, I expect the mission report tomorrow morning by eleven," Tsunade told Itachi.

"Hai," Itachi said but didn't move.

"Do you need something?"

"What does Sakura like to eat? I mean, I'm trying to get to know my subordinates a little better. Starting with Sakura," Itachi said.

"Uh-huh. Now, why do you really want to know that?"

"I'd like to get to know her a little better," Itachi told her honestly. It wasn't a lie.

Tsunade eyed him and grinned. "She likes to go to this tea-house, but doesn't get to go that often because her teammates don't like it. It's the one next to the Yamanaka's flower shop."

Flashback over

"You're welcome. Now go away," Tsunade said, turning back to her paperwork with a slightly miserable look on her face. 'I hate paperwork.'

Itachi bowed and turned to leave.

Ichiraku Ramen shop

Sasuke glared at his bowl.

Sakura rolled her eyes.

Naruto slurped down his ramen.

"So...is it like a date? The meeting with Itachi," Naruto asked.

Sasuke immediately looked at Sakura to see her reaction, expecting her to punch Naruto for even suggesting that.

"No! Well, maybe. I don't know," Sakura said, blushing slightly. Sasuke went back to glaring at his bowl.

"Oh my god, Sakura-chan! You're blushing. Do actually like elder teme?"

"Don't call him that! And no, I don't like him. I just admire him," Sakura said, trying to stop blushing.

'She's never told Naruto to stop calling me teme. Well, she used to, all those years back. Does that mean she doesn't have any feelings for me now? I always thought...' Sasuke thought sourly. "Well, that's too bad. I was thinking of taking you out too. We haven't spent much time together, you know?"

Naruto turned to hide his grin, and tried not to laugh when Sakura said, "Aw, Sasuke. Some other day okay? Soon, I promise."

Sasuke was stunned. Naruto, not so much. 'What did you expect Sasuke? That she'd wait forever?'

"I'm going to head to petals and love, and give Ino some company till it's five."

Naruto waved and Sasuke nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. As soon as Sakura was out of their sight, he turned to Naruto.

"Dobe, does Sakura not like me anymore?"

Petals and Love

"Hey forehead! What's got you all happy?"

Sakura looked at her friend and grinned. "Ino, I think I've got a date with Itachi."

"FINALLY."

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