Yup yup yup!! Thanks for all the great reviews…I'll get right to the story and it is another filler. There will be a few more before we really set into the action!

Thoughts/dream/flashbacks

Disclaimer…Nothing mine to be…If I owened this then would the Akatsuki be dead?.....Pssh! Hell No!

Tap-tap-tap…………..tap-tap-tap………….

Sakura gave an exasperated sigh as she tapped her fingers in a rhythm along the table top. She shifted her weight in her chair and her scowl deepened. It didn't take a genius to know that there was something bothering her. In short, she had been nervous as hell about the finals the next day. Even when she had been attending to Itachi's eyes (only hours after the incident in the training grounds) she hadn't been able to fully focus, which didn't set well with the Uchiha.

Kakashi smiled under his mask. "I wouldn't have put you in if I didn't think you were ready…"

Over and over again did Kakashi's words replay in her mind. So he really does have faith in my skills…

She felt proud, to say the least. After all these years of him still thinking that she was the same twelve year old girl, she had finally showed him that she didn't need to be saved.

Tap-tap-tap……..

She placed a hand under her chin and heaved a sigh once again; her thoughts turning to something else that had puzzled her. She recalled the incident in detail…

Sakura hovered over Itachi with her fingertips resting lightly on his temples. Aside from the few sharp retorts and comments between her and Kisame, she had been relatively quiet; clearly deep in thought over what Kakashi had reported to her.

During the walk home, Itachi had snuck a few glances behind him only to see Sakura with a distant look in her eyes and her head bent.

He couldn't help but wonder what was going through her head. It wasn't like he routinely met a person where they were a puzzle for him to put together…It just wasn't natural.

Even as she started easing the pain from his exhausted muscles in his temples, she stayed oblivious to his stares. Only the day before was it that she had to keep her eyes shut to block out the piercing black gaze.

But he didn't comment on it…It was a refreshing game to try and learn about her; something that he didn't tire of.

However, what did bother him was the fact that she would stare off, as if having an internal battle before he would have to shift or "hn" to get her attention. Finally it got to the point where he knew it was useless.

"Go get your sandals," he said as he sat up from the bed and pulled her hands from his temples.

For a moment, the glassiness disappeared from her eyes and her mouth gaped open and closed like a fish-completely confused as to why Itachi had stopped the session mid-way. It was clear that she was unaware of her lack of focus.

"Wh-what? B-but I'm not done yet…." Came from her lips once she found it in her to form coherent words.

"Clearly," he said shortly and walked to the door of his room before holding it open and looking impatiently towards her.

"…what?"

"Would you rather stay here?"

Sakura blinked and stood up rather quickly before rushing out of his room and into the kitchen.

"Where's the fire, kitten?" Kisame chuckled.

"I…um…Itachi said we were leaving…"

"Where to?"

Before she could answer, Itachi stepped into the living room still wearing a solid grey t-shirt and dark pants. "Let's go…"

Sakura glanced over at Itachi who stared blankly at the sky above him. When he had told her that they were leaving, she had expected him to go out to train again….nothing that had to do with him leading them to a "small hole in the wall" restaurant…if you would call it such.

She wasn't complaining. In fact she was sort of grateful. That morning she had completely skipped out on breakfast and would have been the same for lunch and dinner as well.

But that only frustrated her more…Was Uchiha Itachi supposed to be the type that looked out for his team mate's health? At first glance, the answer would have been "no"--Maybe even a "Hell no"…But now….

Now she wasn't so sure….

Again emerald eyes risked a glance to him, but he was still staring at the sky, admiring the crisp air and scattered stars.

She had to admit, that a diner under the stars with her new team was a great idea of a bonding experience…..Too bad she didn't think of it…

Yeah, Inner scoffed. Too bad…

Sakura resisted rolling her eyes. Ever since training, Inner had been pissed for her chickening out on kissing Uchiha Itachi…

Tap-tap-tap…..tap-tap-tap….

"H-hi," greeted a short haired brunette waitress who stood above Sakura. "Is there anything I can get for you?"

Sakura noticed a nervous glance the waitress tossed towards Kisame and Itachi, but she chalked it up to them being S-class criminals. The pink-haired girls couldn't blame her though…You would be crazy not to fear them.

"I would like a—" she began before she was rudely interrupted.

"She wants a Comso, and I'll take a Sake," Kisame grunted to the waitress who scribbled it down rapidly, making it well known that she was terrified.

She looked expectantly to Itachi who had taken his eyes away from the stars. "Tea…Jasmine."

"H-hai..I'll have it right out…" and with that, the waitress scurried away from their table.

"Sorry kitten, but with the way you've been actin' I figured you would need something pretty strong," Kisame said in an accusing tone. His gaze wasn't short of suspicion as to what had her on edge.

"…Oh…" Sakura wasn't sure what to say to that. Truth be told, Kisame's attitude towards her made her feel nervous. He was definitely intimidating when he made his presence clear especially if he wasn't his cheerful self.

"Well?" he asked, his irritation growing. "What are these finals that the Copy-Cat was talking about?"

"…" Sakura opened her mouth to tell him to mind his own business, but the words wouldn't form. With a nervous glance towards the silent Uchiha, she saw that his focus was now on her, waiting for the answer. Sighing, she reluctantly explained. "Tomorrow is an Anbu test. I've been training for the past five months hoping to get in, but now that I have a chance, I'm not sure if I'm ready."

They stayed quiet for a moment before it was broken by Kisame giving a hearty chuckle. Sakura furrowed her brows angrily taking his laughing as if it was aimed at her. "What are you laughing at?"

Kisame settled down a bit and grinned. "You're teamed with two Akatsuki and were trained with a Sannin. What are you worried about?"

Sakura didn't know what to say. Sure she knew she was talented and had trained hard, but she felt very self conscious about her failing. Itachi seemed to notice this as he examined her.

"Here you are," said the waitress as she sat the drinks down. She gave Itachi his as she pulled her hand away quickly before doing the same with Kisame's. The Mist-nin grinned at her fear giving her a view of his sharp teeth and she jumped loser to Sakura while clumsily sloshing the Cosmo across the table top. "Oh! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!" she said in a frantic voice as she hastily used her apron to dry the table.

"It's alright." Sakura replied warmly and smiled at the nerve racked waitress. "I wasn't that thirsty anyway."

The waitress paused and looked to Sakura but before she could say anything, Kisame butted in. "I'm not paying for half a drink, kitten. Let her go and get another for you."

Sakura turned an icy glare towards him but he didn't seem effected. "Don't worry about," she began to the waitress.

"N-no. He's right-I'll get you a new one!" The waitress scurried through the tables once again.

"What is wrong with you?" Sakura asked angrily at Kisame.

"One thing you gotta know," he said as he sat forward to stare at her. "I like my alcohol and I want what I pay for."

Sakura's eyes narrowed and she clenched her fist. Itachi saw this and decided to pay close attention.

"You didn't have to be so rude about it!"

"Like it matters!"

"It does matter! Next time, I'll pay for my own drinks so you don't have to worry about wasting your precious money!"

"Don't make me sound like that damn Kakuzu!" His voice rose to draw other's attention to the argument. "I just don't want people to waist their drinks and expect it to be ok!"

"It was your fault! You scared her on purpose!"

"Yeah? So what?"

Sakura had had enough of his complaining and her eyebrow twitched as she raised her fist from under the table. Itachi, though amused at their banter, gripped her wrist firmly, but not too much where she couldn't pull away if she wanted to.

The pink haired kunoichi blinked and emerald eyes looked to him questioningly.

Itachi was partially surprised that she hadn't pulled away but instead relaxed her fist in his grip. "Don't try and change his mind on this. It's pointless."

He slowly released her wrist and sat back only to meet Kisame's blank gaze. Itachi held back a cocky smirk and crossed his arms over his chest.

"H-here you go…" The waitress said in a low whisper and kept her eyes down. "I'm sorry…."

"Don't worry about it," Sakura repeated.

The waitress blushed from embarrassment and turned to go back to a much less scarier table.

Sakura shook her head and stared at her drink. What was she worried about? She knew that she could handle it. Here she went after Orochimaru and Kabuto without thinking twice and held her own for a while there. Surely the exams wouldn't be that bad.

Sighing for the umpteenth time, she pulled her glass to her and took a healthy swig, savoring the fresh alcohol that flowed down her throat. Setting it down, her sigh turned to one of relief as she sat back for their food. She had to admit that Kisame knew how to pick a drink.

"So what type of exam do you have to take?" Kisame asked.

Sakura opened her mouth to answer but closed it when she really wasn't sure.

"It's a skill test. They have a room or secluded are where you have a small mission and you are forced to complete in a time limit." Itachi answered for her. "Giving the mission, it can range from trickery, stealth, stamina, or even loyalty."

"Eh? Well we had it a bit different," Kisame started as Sakura turned her attention back to him. Knowing that she was waiting, he took a drink from his bottle and leaned an arm across the table while the other was swung lazily on the back of his chair. "It was a very similar test from chunnin to Anbu. Pain in the ass too. You had a group of people like you do here except in the test, you had to kill to survive and your opponents were your teammates." He took another swig and set it down onto the table.

Sakura had remembered Zabuza saying that years ago when they were on the bridge. She couldn't imagine what it must've been like. Maybe that was why he drank so much….She couldn't imagine even him being ok with killing his friends at such a young age. What it must have been like. After all he was for the most part polite until it came to fighting or drinking.

Emerald eyes looked to Kisame who took one last drink as a waiter-this time-came over to set down food. Apparently they had been here before because Sakura didn't remember ordering food…

"Dig in kitten." Kisame had already started to eat his food and Sakura glanced at hers. They didn't have to ask her twice before she started to eat as well. It wasn't everyday that she didn't have to eat Ramen.

Itachi looked over to see Sakura take a bite of her food. It was only natural for her to be nervous. Obviously her being teamed with Sasuke didn't help her in her younger years. Her confidence was low and she had to work twice as hard to be where she is today. But he couldn't help but to think that she would make the test. After all, she had tricked him into a genjutsu and he couldn't remember the last time anyone had ever done such a thing. Granted his eyes were never worse but that wasn't an excuse.

Itachi was interested in watching her the next day, but he knew it wasn't allowed. Only the instructors for the test were allowed to go and watch. Still, his curiosity only grew with how well she would work under pressure…Not to mention it would be a good time to see her skills that he had yet to see. Just how strong was she?

***********************************************************

After they had their meal and after the banter between Kisame and Sakura about the tip, they had finally started on their way home. It was nearly 10pm and Sakura was frantic at getting home to sleep but Kisame only laughed at her frantic theories and shook his head-insisting that she would do fine. Then continued to "comfort" her in saying that if she failed, he would barge in there and threaten their lives unless they said she passed.

"No! You can't do that!" Sakura exclaimed as she stepped in front of Kisame, making him stop. "You are not allowed to come! Neither of you are! I'm going to do this on my own and I don't need you to come as my cheerleaders!"

Kisame frowned as she continued to poke him in the chest repeatedly with each sentence. Finally he grabbed her finger and pulled it away from him. "I'm not your cheerleader. If anything you," he emphasized as he poked her back, "would be our cheerleader!"

This only made Sakura scowl deeper. "I am not your cheerleader!"

"You are if I say you are!"

Itachi watched from a few feet away, knowing that this was a respect issue that they would have to work out. He didn't mind of course seeing as he was silently nominated as the leader. It was just something that he had always had since he was 7.

Sakura growled out as she twitched. "Don't make me flick you," she threatened.

The blue man grinned wickedly and leaned down towards Sakura. "Ohhh….That's real scary. If that's how you plan to make it through the exams tomorrow then you're shit outa luck-"

Suddenly, she flicked him in the middle of his forehead sending him tumbling backwards a few feet until he landed roughly on his stomach.

Sakura stuffed her hands on her hips with a pleased smirk as she watched Kisame stumble to his feet while gripping his forehead. Itachi chuckled deeply and Sakura turned to see him looking back at her. She could feel her cheeks warm in a blush but she was grateful that it was dark out.

"Damn kitten! You aren't friendly!" Kisame grumbled as they started back to their apartment.

"Don't complain-I gave you a warning," she pointed.

Kisame didn't say anything, still ticked over her actually getting him down, though he was pleased to know she had more fire in her.

But this only gave him a plan as for revenge for the next day and he couldn't wait to see her face….

*****************************************************************

Sakura sat on the bench outside of the door with shaking hands and tensed shoulders. Damn it that she was still nervous! Not to mention pissed!!! Her nerves where racked and her legs bounced to get the extra energy out while she bit her bottom lip like a child who got caught with a hand in the cookie jar. It had started with the morning and damn her luck for her day starting in utter chaos.

That damn Kisame had "kindly" made her breakfast…Cereal, toast, a hot cup of coffee and an apple. He knew she was stressed and had conveniently gone through the effort of not training just to make her a nice meal before going to the exams.

It seemed like an innocent jester; teammates looking out for each others' well being. What had some how slipped from the forefront of her mind was that this brute wasn't exactly the nicest guy out there. One look at the cloak hanging in his closet told you that. Not to mention the sharp grin he let slip while he watched her take the spoon into her mouth again and again.

Not only did he stare at her in fixation, he even asked her, on more then one occasion mind you, how her food tasted. In which she replied with a bright grin, "This is great-thanks!"

Damn it!

It wasn't until she stood up from her breakfast that she felt the sudden effects of a light dizziness fill her that was only associated by alcohol. Emerald eyes had flashed angrily to Kisame who roared with laughter at his little ploy. "What did you put into my food?!!" she had raged, waking Itachi from his reading on the couch.

"Relax kitten," he said in between laughs has he held his sides. "Just some great sake!"

Sake! Sake!!! That four little word would be the death of her with Kisame around!

As she looked to the other five shinobi sitting in the hallway, waiting just like her she couldn't help but let her eyes linger on each one. Calm, cool, collected. Only one other seemed to be slightly unnerved by the way his leg bounced up and down rhythmically. Or maybe he was just bored…Either way Sakura's nerves tightened.

Damn it….

Sighing to herself, she resisted the urge to hold her hand to her mouth to check for any remnants of Sake lingering. Oh he would pay dearly when she was finished with this exam….

"Alright, good morning to you all," said a tall man who walked out from a door that she hadn't noticed open. There was a few mumbles of a reply, but Sakura didn't pay attention as she studied the man.

He was tall and very skinny with short neat brunette hair. Thin framed glasses and a jounin vest that hung open to reveal a green shirt. "I hope you guys had a good night rest because you'll need it." He opened the door and motioned for them to walk in while Sakura resisted a groan.

Kisame would die.

Slowly, she stood to her feet and a diluted dizziness was still there. She panicked slightly as she stared at the door, wondering if she should just turn back now and try in a few weeks. No one else would know that she didn't take the exams seeing as Kakashi was the only one who knew.

Kisame and Itachi would never let you live it down…

Sakura let a groan escape her as she watched the last man step through the door and the brunette jounin look to her expectantly.

Her pride wouldn't be able to handle facing the guys without having to kill them at some point..perhaps in their sleep. After all Itachi was nearly blind and if killing him in his sleep didn't work then maybe she could use a justu to cut off his vocal cords when she healed his eyes. She did after all find that she enjoyed his company. As for Kisame, he can stay with the first plan of decapitation…

"Are you wanting to take the test out here, Ms….." he glanced at his charts. "Haruno?"

"Huh? Oh! Sorry," she said apologetically and rushed into the room where the five others stood in a straight line in front of three others who sat proudly in wooden chairs at a long table. The room was small, only coming half the size compared to the Hokage's office. The walls were a crème beige with the exception of the wall behind the table where the three shinobi sat which was only a wall of small monitors that showed what looked like tunnels and others that were the forest.

She walked to one side of the line and waited as the brunette man took his place at the table.

"Welcome to the Anbu exams," greeted a shorter man with a bandana on his head, reminding her of a short Ibiki...with blonde hair. The thought made her smirk and some of her butterflies vanished. "There are only six of you so this will be a very challenging task."

"As you can see, we are the hosts of this exam therefore we will decide if you pass. The final results are going to be just that; final. You are more then welcome to take the exam up to three times. If you have not passed by the third, you are restricted to your current rank," explained the man in the center of the table next to the blonde. He wasn't nearly as pleasant as the previous two and had an air of arrogance to him that Sakura found annoying.

"Yes, so please try your hardest for this test," smiled the brunette warmly. "I would hate to see you stuck at the same level."

The shinobi next to Sakura snorted, but didn't say anything. He was the same one that had the small bounce in his leg from complete boredom and even then, she had to admire his calmness, though he came off a bit cocky. His height was much taller then her as she only came up to his collarbone and his dark black hair hung around his face much like Izumo's.

Feeling her eyes, he glanced over and met her eyes with dark brown. A crooked grin and a wink made her look back to the table with a smirk of her own.

"Your task is simple. You are to find a hidden scroll in the Forest of Death. There are two total. The two who retrieve it and escape pass."

"Of course," smiled the brunette again, ignoring the glare from the angry man who had been talking. "There will be certain risks. Death is obviously," he said, stretching the word out, "one of them. We will have a team of medics on guard around the perimeter and if you wish to forfeit then you will send a spark to the sky." He pulled out six long tubes that were small enough to fit in their kunai pouches. "Of course if you forfeit then you are no longer valid to take the exam again—"

"In a mission there are no time outs and there are no forfeits. It's either life or death!" the first arrogant man interrupted.

"Are there any questions?"

A man at the opposite end of Sakura's line spoke. "When is the dead line for the exam?"

"When either both scrolls are retrieved or death of course," smiled the brunette cheerfully. "It's normal for an exam to take up to a week long."

Sakura was becoming wary of the warm hearted brunette man. He seemed a little…..to happy. There was something different about him.

********************************************************************************

Sakura once again found herself facing an entrance gate to the forest. They had been split up all around the perimeter, letting each get their own entrance. On each side forest was an instructor from the room before and they waited for the right time before sending the contestants in.

Sakura was lucky enough to get the shorter of the men that had reminded her of Ibiki and she couldn't help but grin at the thought of having the two men stand next to each other. Ibiki would only give her a deadly glare while the short blonde would smile crookedly.

"Are you nervous?" asked the man.

"Yeah a little," she said indifferently, proud that she seemed to keep her cool so far.

"Well it is a survival test so I guess anyone would be nervous."

Sakura said nothing.

"You know," he continued after a moment. "The test can last up to a week but between you and me, its average for it to go on for five days. I think the fastest was 3 days."

"Oh great," she replied sarcastically. "You need to keep that kind of information to yourself."

The man chuckled. "Well I wouldn't mind giving off a small hint as to where the scroll may be but I don't even know. I would hate to be in your shoes."

"You really aren't helping…"

"Yeah, I'm sorry." He looked around for a moment before a static came over the line.

"Hai, ready on this end," reported the man into the radio. Sakura looked over at him from her shoulder to see that he had turned his attention to her. "You ready, Ms. Haruno?"

Sakura gave a short smile and nod as she adjusted her gloves on her hands.

"Then we'll just wait for the signal."

A second past, then another until they were both welcomed with a sudden spark that exploded in the sky shooting red and oranges lights ablaze. Sakura turned to the entrance and darted in only to be swallowed by the shadows from the canopy over head.

It wasn't until she was a good ways inside the grounds that she stopped and decided to get everything in order. She knew all too well what lurked in the shadows and she had no intentions of becoming a victim.

There were six people and two scrolls. That was clear. They were in the forest of death and it could take up to a week for the mission. A week…Psh-yeah right. She had no desire to stay that long.

Kneeling down at the base of a tree, she searched her kunai pouch as an inventory. Her kunai's and senbons winked secretively at her next to two scrolls and her flair. Pulling out her two scrolls, she smiled proud that she always brought them with her. One scroll was a simple parchment that she had used for her more personal touches such as explosive notes, seals and her medic gear that she kept safe. The second though was different and she hadn't seen any other that was ebony black with silver ends. It had been her fathers and truth be told, she wasn't sure what was really in it; a few seals here and there but none that she was familiar with. She just hoped she didn't have to find out.

The thing about this test was that no one was told to bring food or other supplies except for those that you wore around the village which only left you with a kunai pouch and a few personal touches. She guessed that was a large part of the test as well. You had to know how to survive in any condition whether you were prepared or not…

Setting her scrolls away and leaning against the tree, she tried to remember the forest lay out. There was a large tower in the center and many rivers and creeks, but it was easy to get lost. Traps, creatures, and jutsu's littered the area in the worst places and with all the tests that they do, there was no doubt that the contestants had added to the list with only few that have actually been set off, leaving the others for more unsuspecting shinobi. And through all of this you had to find two scrolls with no hint as to where they would be at.

Instinct told her to go towards the tower but was it really that simple? For a chunin or jounin test, maybe…but Anbu? No way.

"It's probably in some tree some where," she said to herself dryly. This made her look to the lofty trees all around her and she mentally screamed, already tired of this exam.

Sakura sighed and shook her head. This wasn't going to be easy and she had to stay on her feet. Thinking outside of the box was the one weapon that kept her different then her opponents.

Luckily she always came prepared for things.

Hells Yeah! We're in this together!!

Deciding that she didn't want to delay her leave from this forest any second longer, she stood to her feet and pulled a kunai out of her pouch. She didn't want to loose track of where she had been and with her being by herself, she couldn't take a risk. Taking her kunai, she set a small notch in the bark of the tree started her trek through the canopy of trees.

The warm sun peeked through the many leaves as she jumped to the branches and casually made her way deeper into the belly of the dark forest. The sound of a few birds called to each other in soft caws and coos. Sakura kept her eyes out for any movement, emerald eyes scanning every nook. Last time it was open for others to attack and even now she had a feeling the rules hadn't changed. The five other men that were competing with her were all joinin and here she was still haven't taken that test.

You killed Sasori! They would've gotten their ass handed to them!

Sakura grinned, knowing that inner was right. Still, thought, she had the disadvantage.

Jumping nimbly she paused and kneeled on the branch she was on. Looking around she searched for any sign that she was being followed. It was too early for someone to have caught up with her, but she didn't want to take a chance.

Once satisfied, she continued. Her plan was to head closer to the tower. She wasn't a fool to actually go in there seeing as she would only run into her other opponents. It just seemed too easy for it to be in there. But it was possible to be close to that.

*****************************************************************************

Bang-Bang-Bang!

"…"

Bang-bang!

"SAKURA! I'm going to kill you!!!" yelled a distressed female voice from the other side of the wooden door.

Bang-bang-bang!

"Damn bitch, just leave it!" said another voice; this time male.

There wasn't an answer only another bang before he reached to the door and opened it to reveal Ino and Hidan.

Ino blinked mid knock and stared with wide blue eyes while Hidan just stared off indifferently. Hidan was used to woman looking at his Akatsuki brother like that, whether from fear, surprise, or….admiration-Gag! He would rather be finding someone to sacrifice at this time…

"Oh…uh…" Ino giggled awkwardly and realized that her hand was still hanging strangely in mid air. Quickly, she pulled it behind her back and flashed a grin. "Sorry, Itachi…Or uh, Uchiha….Mr. Uchiha?" she corrected.

"Fuck! This is painful to watch!" Hidan yelled out at no one in particular and threw his arms over his chest.

Ino glared at him and held up a warning finger that clearly said not to push her. Turning back she smiled again. "I was just wondering where Sakura was."

Itachi blinked rather slowly. Obviously he was bored but he still thought about his answer carefully. If Sakura hadn't told her companion then she wasn't supposed to know about the exams…At this, he had to resist the pull on his lips. It looked like Sakura trusted him more then this loud blonde. He must be moving up in her book, whether she knew it or not.

"She is out with Kisame," Itachi replied calmly, his face giving nothing away.

"Oh," her face fell slightly. "Do you know where?"

"Why is it that you care?"

Ino's shocked expression flashed back. Clearly she hadn't expected him to ask her a question. He wasn't like Sasuke in that part. "Uh…Well it's just a thing…" she explained with a strange hand motion in the air. Itachi had thought he had seen the last of that annoying hand that had tried to break down the door.

Hidan growled deeply, clearly irritated over this. Stepping forward he began to explain, earning a death glare from the blonde.

Itachi stood in the door way and looked between the two who occupied the hallway; each arguing lightly with each other before turning their attention back at him. He vaguely wondered what he had done to deserve this. Kisame was out and Sakura in the exams…it really wasn't the best time to be left alone. It wasn't like he was bothering anybody. In fact it was a simple reading that he hadn't finished that morning. The evening before when Sakura was working on his eyes, she had told him that reading would give his sight a good exercise and may help her clear his chakra paths easier. He didn't mind. He missed reading and Sakura kindly had healed enough for him to make out the blurry little symbols as letters. Which led to him sitting on the couch, catching up on what he had missed, thus leading to him standing in the doorway with two annoying "ex" team mates that insisted in yelling when they were only two feet from each other….It was all beyond him.

"And she hadn't fucking called Ino back yesterday, so this bitch felt the need to drag my ass down here to fucking scream her damn head off at the your partner!" Hidan finished explaining and Itachi was just able to catch the last of it.

"I see. Well you can find her in the Hokage's office." With that said Itachi closed the door and bolt locked it for good measure. There was only silence as he walked back to the living room and picked up his book before lying back on the couch and picking up where he had left off.

(Ahhh you gotta love him!)

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Naruto and Deidara lay in the grass of training grounds 4. The other grounds had all been filled with other teams but neither of the blondes mind. They had been training all afternoon and were panting lightly as they lay sprawled out and staring at the clouds rolling over Konoha. Naruto wore a thin white tank top with his same orange and black pants finished with his forehead protector hung lopsided from under his wet spiky hair.

Deidara was just as sweat but was seen on his bare chest with a light layer of shimmer. His hair was pulled into a high pony tail and he only wore his black pants…

"I didn't think you could fight like that," Naruto said once his breathing settled.

"Come on," Deidara scoffed. "I'm only weak in genjutsu, un."

Naruto laughed to himself. "Me too!"

Deidara grinned. "Betcha don't have anything to help you though, hm."

Naruto blinked and sat up on his elbows to look at Deidara on the other side of the grounds. "You mean you have something that will help you?"

Deidara nodded and sat up. Proudly, he pulled up his bands that covered his eye to reveal a mechanical device. "This helps me fight against that along with aerial surveillance and a lot more, yeah," he boasted.

Naruto stared wide eyed at it like a child looking at a lollypop. "Wow! Were can I get one?!"

At this Deidara laughed. "I made it! You can't just go out and buy one, un."

"Let me see it then!" Naruto got up and ran over to Deidara with a hand out expectantly.

"Hell no!"

"What?!"

"I said no! You'll break it, yeah," Dediara glared with his hair covering the device.

Naruto glared back. "I will not! Just let me see it!"

"I said no, brat!"

"Who are you calling a brat?!"

"Are you deaf, yeah?! Or just blind, 'cause I don't see anyone else in this area!"

"Why you!" Naruto jumped at Deidara as they wrestled around on the ground. Naruto desperately tried to grab the device, but Deidara just turned his head and pushed Naruto off of him, but it was in vain as a second and then third Naruto jumped the poor bomber.

"Give it to me!"

"Fuck you, yeah!"

There was a roar of laughter from the side of the grounds. Both blondes paused and looked over to see Hidan laughing insanely at them while Ino paid no mind as she pulled the Jashinist after her by the ear. He didn't seem to take noticed of the hold she had on him as he was pulled along behind her; his feet stepping sideways awkwardly to keep up.

Naruto could only stare as he watchi Hidan and Ino disappear down the sidewalk towards the Hokage tower, letting his clones poof away and leaving him sitting on Deidara's stomach. A rumble under him turned his attention to Deidara who looked like he would explode much like his works of art. "Get off of me…" he hissed between clenched teeth; his face red.

Naruto sweat dropped at their position but before he could move…….

"Katsu!"

Boom----"Aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Hidan heard the boom and looked to the corner of his eye to see Naruto sent flying into the sky, just over the tree tops with smoke staining at his clothes. Another wave of laughter poured through him as Ino continued to drag him towards the tower-completely unaware of what had Hidan nearly on his knees in laughter.

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Night finally stretched over the mountains and settled in the forest. The temperatures dropped and a cool night wind combed through the trees. Sakura found herself huddled against the base of a tree with her knees pulled to her chest and her arms tightly around her. It was cold. She was alone…The forest wasn't a friendly place to be. All was silent except for the whispering leaves and an occasional whistle of wind.

She pushed her head back against the bark and stared at the sky between clouds and leaves. It was beautiful the way the night sky seemed to glow a tint of blue. It was almost ethereal. A tendril of wind wrapped around her and she shivered. She wished she could start a fire, but she knew it was too dangerous. Someone may be able to see the smoke or glow from the fire if it wasn't small enough and if it was too small then it wouldn't keep her warm. Building a shelter wasn't a priority seeing as she was staying in a branch and she wanted to save as much energy as possible.

Not to mention she had already spent a few hours building traps around her incase some one or something came along while she was asleep. After all her last traps last time she was here had served their purpose.

Slowly, her eyes began to drift closed and her head lolled to one side as sleep took her. The quiet sounds of the forest sang to her as another wind blew across the trees…..

Kabuto smiled mockingly. A smile that told more then what Sakura wanted to know. She started to struggle, now becoming panicked.

"Let go, Kabuto!" She ordered while trying to knee him, but he simply pushed his own knee in between her legs to keep her from doing it again. He still had a hold of her hair and pulled it back farther, exposing her neck to the cold wind and his warm breath.

Just as Orochimaru reached them he bent his head to the crook of her neck while Kabuto watched happily and held her still. "Don't worry, Sakura-chan. It will hurt a lot, but I promise that I'll make it all go away."

The sharp tips of two fangs touched her skin tauntingly and a new layer of fear pulsed through her skin……….

With a gasp, her emerald eyes shot open only to come face to face with unfamiliar dark brown eyes that gleamed in the darkness and a hand that shot around her mouth to keep the scream behind her lips……….

"Don't even dare, or I'll rip your throat out now…"

Yeah that's good for me. I'm just going to start off where I left off next time! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed. Next one will be better…not so boring. Ah well!

As for the whole Ino/Hidan and Deidara/Naruto...It was just to keep you updated with thier results as a team too. I don't want it to be just a Sakura nd Itachi ONLY deal... that's just that main attraction! Everyone loves the Akatsuki so i gotta give them love too! Anyway, Naruto and Deidara are not gay! I just added some humor there.

Thanks for the Fav's and Reviews! Please tell me what you think!