Hey! Thanks for all the reviews/favs/and so forth!! It really means a lot and encourages me to update faster! This is the last of the fillers (boring ones anyway). Like I said, it will start picking up soon!!!

Disclaimer…No Naruto. Ryuu is still busy at the moment with plans of destruction but he told me that he will make a short appearance in the next chappy!

A pain was the first thing that registered to Sakura. It smoldered at her temples and she had only felt this type of pain a few times before; each of which had ended with her being knocked out. She didn't open her eyes, knowing that it would be best to try and pick up what she could. To start off, she needed to remember what had happened to her. This was easier said then done with her temple throbbing. She remembered an explosion which would explain her shoulder and the way if felt as if separated from her body. Another pain made itself known to her at the side of her head where she could remember hitting her head. So she was still wounded…Another thing. She was being carried. It was really uncomfortable the way her dislocated shoulder hung limply of to the side, not helping the bones the gritted against each other.

Koji…he was the one that knocked her out, but why? What was going on?

The next thing she knew, she was being set down onto the ground. The temperature had dropped and she only assumed that she had been out for an hour or two. Still she could feel the world spinning around her as she waited for the sign that something was happening. The only thing that came was a hand that brushed some hair from her face-effectively shocking her and making emerald eyes shoot open while she pulled back instinctively managing to hit her head on the boulder behind her.

"Ow!" she winced and held a hand to her now pounding head.

Koji chuckled at her and stayed kneeling in front of her until she finally was able to look up at him. "What the fuck?" she hissed quietly.

He didn't say anything at first but instead stared at her with a smirk curling his lips and a tilt of his head. It made her feel suddenly uncomfortable with the situation she was in, but she didn't let it show as she waited for an answer.

"So it's just you and me." He stated as he moved to sit next to her. Sakura resisted the urge to scoot away from him.

"I want an explanation. Why did hit me and how are your wounds healed? Are you a medic?"

"I know a medic," he boasted teasingly and leaned his shoulder into hers playfully. Sakura couldn't resist shifting her weight away, which made him frown.

"I didn't heal you so who did?"

"You'll meet him soon enough, princess."

"Who. Did. It?" Her tone was lowered deadly. As far as she knew, they were the only two alive in the forest.

"Just give it a few minutes before he comes. He says he has a present for you anyway."

Sakura had enough of this as she raised her uninjured arm to grip the front of his shirt threateningly, but he knew she was going to do that and grabbed her wrist before flipping their weight so he had her slammed against the boulder. Sakura grunted painfully and the dizziness increased. "Don't be rash, princess. If we wanted you dead then you would already be dead. This isn't so bad if you just cooperate."

"Cooperate?! Why would I do that? Just whose side are you on anyways?"

Koji wiped the back of his hand over his forehead protector only for the emblem of the leaf to be replaced with the symbol of sound. Sakura stared at him, not sure what situation she was in exactly. "He is just going to give you something and you will be released to go back to your team with Uchiha and Hoshigaki…"

"What?" Sakura asked, confused as to what he was saying. "I don't trust you! You work for Orochimaru, don't you?!"

"Orochimaru is a good man. You shouldn't judge him."

"He's a low life bastard…someone like you!" with the last of the statement, she managed to pull her wrist free and punch him before getting to her feet and trying to make a break for it. She hadn't expected him to recover as fast as he tackled her to the ground, knocking the wind out of her. Still, she was able to spin in his grasp and punch him again in the jaw, but she was focusing on her chakra to heal what she could. Koji glared at her as he tried to keep her dangerous hands to her sides as blood leaked from his lip. "Damn, princess, you need to chill!"

"Screw you!" with that clarified, she sent her knee into his groin nearly making his eyes cross. She wiggled from under him and managed to get up before retrieving her katana and running. The kunoichi couldn't stop the relief that flooded her when she recognized the area. It was only a few hundred feet from the gates that led out of the forest and she knew that she was safe once she reached the gates. She was under a partial over hang of a boulder as she ran around the corner only to collide into a chest. Before she fell back, two hands caught her letting her see the face of her rescuer.

"Ah, Sakura-chan. What a pleasure running into you."

"Don't touch me," she hissed and jerked from his grip. "What are you doing here Kabuto? Going to attack Konoha again?"

Kabuto only chuckled and pushed his glasses higher up the bridge of his nose. "Not yet, we aren't, but in due time."

He started walking to Sakura but she only clenched her fist that wasn't dislocated. "Take another step and I will fucking hit hard enough that no one would recognize you."

Kabuto smirked at her threat and was clearly un-phased as he took another step daringly. He turned his attention to Koji was who was finally getting to his feet with a pained expression plastered on. "I see you underestimated her."

"Hai, Kabuto-san," he said obediently.

Kabuto didn't say anything else and looked to Sakura. "I have a present for you, Sakura-chan."

"Keep it-I'm not interested."

"But I picked it out just for you," he said while rummaging through his pocket before pulling out a small red box that fit in the palm of his hand. Sakura instinctively unsheathed her sword and held it to her side. Kabuto smiled at her hostility and tsk-ed at her with his tongue. "No need for that. All you have to do is take this box and we will leave you."

"It's a trick and I won't fall for it. There is something in that box that will only cause problems."

"I assure you that it is only a token of my appreciation towards you. Think of it as a gift for getting so far ahead with your medical training. Medic-to-medic…"

Sakura didn't trust his tone and she gripped her hilt tighter. She wouldn't fall for his games….

She knew that there had to be some one close by. Perhaps someone like a shinobi on guard or a jounin getting off late…Maybe Kakashi getting lost on the road to life or Hell- she would thank Kami for Gai being out late training….With this in mind, she didn't contain her chakra as she let it out slowly in distress. Hopefully they would be able to giver her a little bit of back up or at least enough to re-adjust her shoulder. Then she could take care of these two.

"There are guards blocking the gate Koji so we will have to get out the easy way. I hope you have enough chakra."

"Don't worry about it. I'll be fine."

"Glad to hear it," he smiled and turned to Sakura. "What are you thinking right now?"

Sakura blinked but her hostile glare didn't lessen. "If it was meant to be heard then I would tell you instead of keeping it to myself."

"Watch your tone, Sakura-chan. You'll hurt my feelings."

Sakura scoffed and quickly began to weigh her chances at getting away or at least getting rid of these two…

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"Where are they?!" Tsunade raged at the three men working frantically to find a camera angle on Koji and Sakura. Where every they were at, there were no camera's in that part of the forest.

"The only place they could've is somewhere in the outer parts of the forest. Somewhere lose to the gates…" one of the men explained.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes…Positive."

"Damn it!" she cursed under her breath and watched a rerun of Sakura getting carried out of the tunnels by Koji. It was now in Sakura's hands to get away…

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Sakura charged at Kabuto with her blade and swung at his head, but he ducked under, letting the blade cut a few strands of his hair. He quickly kicked at Sakura, but she countered it with her shin and made to stab him again, but he gripped her arm, stopping the blade inches from his chest. Sakura tried to push her chakra into her arm, but he quickly used his free hand to cut into her forearm with a chakra scalpel. Sakura bit back a scream and instead opted for head butting Kabuto, making him fall onto his butt.

"That was a bad idea…" Sakura regretted as she held her head and fell to her knees with the pain blinding her. Tears from the pain filled to the rim of her eyes and she desperately tried to force chakra through her arm only for it to end in failure. The pain was becoming unbearable and she desperately wished that she wasn't alone. Suddenly, two arms pulled her to her feet from behind and held her arms tight. "That really wasn't smart, Princess."

"Shut up and let me go," she hissed quietly. She wasn't in any position to make orders and he knew it.

Kabuto got to his feet and walked to her while rubbing his own head. "There is something wrong with you, Sakura-chan. You never go for the head."

Sakura said nothing, still the pain blinded her and she tried to get out of Koji's grip. It was a futile attempt and she could sense Kabuto stand in front of her. She could hear him pulling something out and she opened her eyes to see a blurry outline of Kabuto in front of her messing with something in his hands. Again, she struggled but Koji only laughed at her efforts. Her chakra was rolling off in waves as to attract anyone's attention but she highly doubted that the guards would dare go into the forest if they knew what was good for them. "Hold out her hand," Kabuto ordered Koji bringing Sakura out of her thoughts. She could feel him pulling her uninjured arm from behind her back but she tried to keep it away. Even without her chakra in her arm she still had amazing strength, which only succeeded in giving Koji a harder time before he actually was able to get her hand to Kabuto. Koji held a tight grip on her wrist with her palm up, but she curled her fingers, not trusting Kabuto.

He only smirked and set his own hand on hers. "Open up, Sakura-chan."

Psh! Yeah right!

Getting no reaction except a burning glare, he pulled out a kunai and twirled it tauntingly in his hand. "Please?"

Sakura jerked her hand feebly and sent chakra to her leg before kicking Kabuto in the side. The medic stumbled from the blow but was lucky there wasn't enough force to break any ribs. Koji was too busy trying to keep Sakura from getting away and Kabuto was growing agitated over her stubborn nature. Of course it only compelled him to want to solve the mystery of her more.

Straightening up, he fixed his glasses and walked to her until he was up against her. He didn't want to fight her to take the box but had a little trick up his sleeve that would prove more entertaining. Sakura was weary of their close proximity and she knew it showed on her face. Koji was holding her arms behind her and Kabuto was only inches in front… Of course she was far from giving up and used her hand into a few signals that she learned with one hand. Kabuto barely had time to blink before Sakura reached out her hand and gripped his forearm. By reversing her chakra through the blocked chakra paths-thanks to the scalpel-she used as much force as she could to redirect it; effectively working as her chakra slowly pushed through her her hand.

Kabuto's eyes widened once he realized that she knew how to counter the chakra scalpel but it was too late for him to get out of her vice grip. Suddenly, the jutsu set in and a burning pain bleed up his arm, turning his skin darker with the veins growing till visible under his skin. He held out in agony and used his free hand to cut into her arm again with the scalpel, knowing she wouldn't be able to counter it twice. This time, Sakura screamed and Koji was able to pull both arms behind her back. Kabuto examined his arm that was slowly returning to normal but all the same he used his chakra to heal it faster. He turned back to Sakura with a look she couldn't read while opening his mouth to say something.

Before he could form words, a figure appeared behind him and sent a kunai into the back of his shoulder before vanishing in the shadows. Sakura looked around desperately to see who it was but was distracted at Kabuto's grunt from the kunai. Pulling it out of his shoulder he glared pointedly at it as if it had just insulted him. Anger was stained over his features and he tossed the kunai into the ground making it land direct. "Who was that?" Koji asked as he sent his chakra out. There was a slight contact of foreign chakra that he found but it vanished almost immediately.

"Some one who doesn't want us here," Kabuto said in a low tone. He smirked cunningly and looked to Sakura. "Looks like someone cares about you after all."

The meaning behind it sent a cold chill down her, but whether it was from anger or grief, she didn't know. He was referring to Sasuke and how he had left her behind-the meaning was all to clear for the kunoichi. "I seemed to have attracted your attention," she spat back.

"But my reasons are clearly professional. Tell me," he said as he formed a scalpel in each hand. "How is it that you improved so much?"

"You'd be surprised what a target paper with your face on it can accomplish."

Cha! You tell him!!

Sakura inwardly smirked but when she saw the cocky expression fall from Kabuto's face, she let the smirk grace her lips brightly.

"You have a sharp tongue, Sakura-chan." He chuckled after he recovered. "It will be fun when the war starts. I have a feeling you will keep things interesting."

Suddenly the man hiding from the shadows appeared behind Kabuto who was momentarily distracted and knocked him to his feet. Kabuto landed with a thump and a huge object was thrown towards him that he narrowly missed as he rolled to the side. The figure looked to the white-haired medic who stood to his feet. "Keh," the figure grunted and lifted the object over his shoulder. "You're a damn worm like your master."

Emerald eyes widened and she grinned darkly at Kabuto who was clearly displeased at the intruder. "You're gonna get your ass kick now!"

Kabuto tossed her a glare and turned back to Kisame. "Well sorry to disappoint but this brute isn't fast enough to be a threat."

"You're right about that," Kisame said indifferently while scratching his chin. "But she wasn't referring to me…"

The hair on the back of Kabuto's neck stood on end as a second presence alerted him that some one was at his back. A kunai slowly slid over his shoulder and touched his neck hauntingly like a ghost. "Itachi…I would say what a pleasant surprise but I would be lying through my teeth."

"Since when did you have a conscious?"

Kabuto shrugged lightly. "Can't argue with that."

Itachi said nothing and looked to Koji who had Sakura's hands behind her back and her own sword at her throat much like Kabuto at the moment.

"It seems as if we are on level ground with neither side having the advantage…" Kabuto grinned.

"Don't be a fool," Kisame said with his own grin firmly in place. Suddenly, Koji was hit over the back of the head by the real Kisame before the one in front of Kabuto disappeared in a poof of smoke. Sakura looked down to Koji at her feet and then to Kabuto smugly.

His grin had long since been wiped clean like slate and he quickly analyzed his options. "Well…that wasn't very fun."

Itachi narrowed his eyes and pressed the kunai into Kabuto's throat but like he suspected, it was a substitution and the real one was long gone…

"What the Hell?!" Sakura yelled. "He got away!"

"We all saw that kitten," Kisame grinned.

Sakura glared at his teasing. "Clearly but I'm pissed!"

"So?"

"So that means that I can state the obvious!"

"Did you miss us that much?"

Sakura blinked before looking to Itachi who watched with interest as she tried to answer the question. She had to admit that out of all the people she wished to have at the moment were the two in front of her…but would she tell them that? No. "Can we just go?"

Kisame chuckled and Itachi continued to watch her grow uncomfortable with his stare. He had hardly been here for five minutes and she was already amusing him.

"Let's go then." Kisame picked up the unconscious Koji and swung him carelessly over his shoulder before heading out of the forest. "So…how were the exams?"

"Oh you know," Sakura said teasingly with a wave of her hand in the air. "A little bit of this and that…the usual life and death you get in a forest."

"Sounds boring."

"It was. Too bad you weren't there to keep things interesting."

At this Itachi chuckled, shocking the two beside him. "You will have plenty of time for that on missions."

Sakura smiled but didn't reply. She was surprisingly excited to have the first mission with her new team. She wondered how the others were getting along….

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"You fucking bitch! I was going to sacrifice that, you slut!"

"Shut up you dick-weed! I won't let you kill it!"

"It's gonna fucking die anyway-let me put it out of its damn misery!"

"I said No!!"

"I don't give a fuck what you say!" Hidan reached around to try and grab it but Ino swung away from him protectively. "Shit! Just hand it over!"

"Screw you!"

"Please do!"

"You're a sick bastard."

Hidan grinned and stepped closer so his face was in hers and he narrowed his eyes with a sick desire. "I love it when you talk dirty."

Ino for the first time blushed and Hidan couldn't help but find it attractive on her skin. It made him want to see it more often…after he got the sacrifice out of the way of course.

Suddenly the doors swung open and Kiba ran in frantically while looking under the couch and table-not even sparing a glance in Ino and Hidan's direction. "INO!! Have you seen it? I can't find it anywhere and Akamaru hasn't picked up the scent either!"

"Uuuhhhh. Kiba…." Ino said slowly.

He lifted his head up and looked over to see that Ino had it in her hands wrapped in a small towel. Suddenly a little white head popped out. "Yuki!!!"

Bark-bark!

Kiba ran to Ino and carefully pulled the small puppy from her arms and looked at it. It was a snow white color with a single brown spot on his back and he wagged his tail happily at Kiba before licking him. Kiba chuckled and put the small puppy on his head.

Hidan watched with a smoldering glare that burned deeper as the seconds ticked by. The glare and displeased grunt went unnoticed by the two in the room. "Hinata was worried for you buddy. Let's get you back to her…"

"Hinata?" Ino asked.

"Yeah. My mom's dog had puppies and Hinata took this one. She loves Akamaru so much that her family let her get one, hoping it would keep her safe at home. I have to go right now but thanks for finding him!!" Kiba closed the door on the way out followed by little yips of joy until they had left the apartments.

"See? What is wrong with you? That puppy was so cute!"

"Now I have to find another fucking sacrifice!!! Screw it all!" Hidan yelled while tossing his arms into the air while Ino rolled her eyes.

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They were probably finding it easier then what I had at first….Sakura mused…

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It was only a few minutes later that they reached the gates and were let out by the guards. Tsunade and the three men from the exam stood at the entrance and a look of shock crossed every face.

"Uchiha, Hoshigaki…what are you two doing here? And what happened…Sakura, you look like hell!" Tsunade rambled and immediately went into "mother goose" mode. Sakura smiled as the blonde began to heal her injuries in record time.

"I don't think she looks that bad," Itachi said just enough for Sakura, Kisame, and Tsunade to hear. When they looked to him questioningly, he stared off as if nothing had happened. Sakura brushed it off has his own way of teasing. (Pst-clueless…)

"So what do we do with the prick?" Kisame said with a bump of his shoulder. "I could deposit him on Zetsu's doorstep…" this time he wrinkled his eye brows suggestively at Sakura making her laugh.

"Though I wouldn't care, we need to get information from him." Tsunade explained as she relocated Sakura's shoulder, making her whimper slightly, trying to keep the sting of tears back.

"Oh-I got it. Then I'll just drop him off at Hidan's…"

Tsunade stopped working on Sakura and tossed a dry look to Kisame. "We have our own people who can handle just fine, Hoshigaki. Just hand him to one of the men over there and they'll take him to Ibiki."

At first Sakura thought that Kisame was going to argue but he merely shrugged after a moment of thought and walked to the three men. "You guys aren't fun at all…"

Sakura couldn't help but grin at Kisame. He was at least trying to make an effort to fit in and listen to the rules…

"What's this?" Tsunade asked as she looked to Sakura's head where the gash was bleeding slightly.

"Oh…that was from an explosion in the tunnels," Sakura explained sheepishly. Tsunade reached to heal her wound, but Sakura shied away, knowing that it may need stitches and she wasn't interest in that. "Don't worry. It's nothing-"

"Let her look at it," Itachi said from behind her. Tsunade threw a strange look at him but ignored it as she took advantage of Sakura's momentary distraction.

"Ow! Shishou…"

"Don't complain. It'll only take a second to heal," she badgered like a mother as she went to work on it. "How were you able to sneak in without the guards realizing?" she asked to Itachi.

"I suspect the same way that Kabuto was able to get out."

"Kabuto?" the blonde spun around to him with weary amber eyes. "Kabuto was here?"

Sakura rubbed her temples that had started to dull with the constant throb. "Yeah. Him and Koji were in on something, but I don't know what it was. Itachi and Kisame arrived just on time, though when we realized that he had used a substitution, he was already gone."

"That sneaky prick. What did he want?"

"I don't know," Sakura said grudgingly. "He was going to give me something, but I don't know what it was. I didn't want to find out anyway."

"I'm afraid there is more bad news, Lady Hokage," bowed one of the men that stepped to them. "Omasu and Haruno-san were the only ones who made it out alive. The others were found killed through out the forest."

Sakura recognized him as the tall warm brunette from only a few days ago and she could tell there was something on his mind.

"It was a life or death test. It was to be expected," Tsunade explained in her business tone and turned to watch the two other men carrying Koji to Ibiki's interrogation room.

"But there's something else… We just finished searching Omasu's kunai bag and the scrolls weren't there. I'm afraid that Kabuto may have taken them when he escaped."

"Actually," Sakura grinned and reached into her own pouch. "I happen to have them here." She held out her hand and both scrolls were there shining brightly.

"Well look at that, kitten! I'd say you past!" Kisame congratulated and hit her on the shoulder. "What do you say?" This time he tossed the last part of the question to the brunette man.

"I couldn't agree more! This really does cause for a celebration, Haruno-san!"

"Thank you," she nodded.

Tsunade smiled brightly and gave a crushing hug to Sakura-forgetting Kabuto all together. "My apprentice is growing up!!!"

"Hokage-san." Itachi said, attracting the blonde's attention as she blinked. "I believe Sakura can't breath."

"Oh-right." She set Sakura down who filled her lungs with rich air.

"I think I need a few drinks," Sakura finally said.

"But you just got out of an exam that you were in for a few days. Aren't you tired?" The brunette asked incredulously.

"No…really. I need a drink." She assured. "I'll be fine."

"That's my girl!" Tsunade took one of Sakura's hands while Kisame took another while chanting together "To the bar!!" leaving Sakura looking back helplessly at the amused Itachi who followed closely behind the three.

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She wasn't expecting a party….No. She expected a drink or two…Hell maybe even three. But word spreads fast through Konoha and when she got to the bar, Kakashi, Tobi, Ino, Hidan, Tenten, Kakuzu, Neji, Kisame, Itachi, Deidara, the brunette from the exams, Naruto, Hinata, and a few others that she didn't take the time to remember. It had been a few hours since she had first arrived and she was feeling the exhaustion set into every bone and blood vessel in her.

Damn she was tired. The many alcohol drinks had taken its affect on her long ago and she couldn't be more grateful as the pain subsided. Kakashi had been the first to congratulate her, saying how proud he was of her being the first rookie member to make the Anbu. Neji had followed since he was already in the Anbu squad from a year and a half earlier. She could tell there was a new respect that he showed her with those deep eyes of his. It wasn't long before Ino, Tenten and Hinata followed over to her and took her to the bar for her first few drinks, laughing and giggling as the alcohol took the effect over the kunoichis.

It wasn't even twenty minutes when Kakashi told her he had to go, seeing as every fiber in his being told him it was a bad idea to let Tobi be around alcohol. Sakura smiled and let him go while looking over to see that Jiriaya had joined the group and sat with Tsunade and Shizune at a round booth.

"Let's go, fore-head," Ino teased while pulling Sakura off the stool.

"Where are we going Ino-pig?"

"I want to sit at the big table! They look like their having fun!!"

Tenten sighed. "That's where all the guys are at. Let's sit in that booth so we can listen in to what their saying instead."

Ino paused in dragging the tired Sakura and looked over to where the brunette was pointing. "Yeah that's a great idea!"

"But…shouldn't w-we…I mean I don't you think we s-shouldn't ease drop on them," Hinata replied hesitantly while looking to the mix of Akatsuki members and the Konoha team mates.

"What are you worried about? They won't try and kill you or anything," Tenten waved off.

Sakura was going to try and reassure the troubled Hyuga but a hand clamped over her shoulder, making her jump and look back to see the brunette haired man. "Excuse me Haruno-san, but I have something to give you."

"What is it?" Ino burst out but earned a deadly glare from the pink-haired kunoichi.

The man only chuckled and pulled something from behind his back before handing it to Sakura.

The said girl looked at it curiously before taking it and looking at the dark black package in her hands with a beautiful silver bow.

"Open it, forehead!! I want to see it!"

"Ino! Let her do it!" Tenten chided.

Carefully Sakura unraveled it and pulled the paper off to see an ebony black cloak and surprisingly light weight silver guards that were used as armor.

Itachi watched from the end of his table with Naruto and Neji looking to see what had her smiling brightly. Of course Itachi knew and was waiting patiently for her to look under the cloak. Everyone else was too busy drinking and laughing about stories from missions.

Turning to the table beside her, she set it down to unravel the cloak but suddenly something dropped to the top of the table and she lowered the cloak to see what had fallen.

Suddenly her smile dropped for only a second at the sight of the mask and emerald eyes widened. It was a smooth porcelain surface with beautiful swirls of black and red paint. It looked like eyeliner around the eyes and two whiskers on either cheek. A smile graced her lips and she wasn't aware that Naruto had gotten up to see it. "Wow! That's so cool, Sakura!"

"Thanks Naruto! Here put it on! I want to see what it looks like on you!" she chanted and handed it to Naruto.

He stared at it hesitantly, truly wanting to just put it on, buy he asked anyway, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah! Hurry up I want to see."

Naruto gave a foxy grin before sliding it over his face. Sakura couldn't help but burst into laughter at the mask on him seeing as it was overly feminine. "Sorry Naruto-but I would wait to get yours if I were you!"

"Don't worry," he yelled and thrust a thumb in the air at Sakura. "I'll be the next one to get into Anbu, believe it! Then we can have some missions together again!"

"Since when did you get so smart?" she swung an arm over his shoulders and gave him a hug. Naruto laughed but before he could come with a snap back, Deidara called him over for some food. Of course when food was in the mix, he was there.

Sakura turned back to the brunette and he smiled warmly to her. "Last but not least…"

His hands went into a few hand signs before he placed a palm onto Sakura's forearm. Suddenly, she felt a burn scar her arm and she winced forcing in the gasp from the sudden heat. As soon as it started, he pulled away and his smiled grew before holding out a hand to her. Sakura looked to her arm to see the anbu tattoo beautifully curved in the traditional style and shook his hand while beaming brightly. "Congratulations, Haruno-san. You are officially an Anbu."

"Thank you." She watched him turn and walk away before Ino jerked her into the booth between her and Tenten.

"Hey that's hot!" Ino squealed and pulled at Sakura's arm to get a better look at it through the dim lights in the bar.

"You have to catch up, Ino. Tell me," she said in a teasing voice. "Are you scared now?"

"Psh! You wish forehead!"

"You r-really have improved Sakura," Hinata said bashfully.

Sakura only smiled softly to her before Tenten turned the subject rather abruptly. "Ino-what do you keep looking at?"

Sakura looked to Ino just in time to see her blink in surprise before forcing a grin. "Nothing."

"Um-hm…That means something," Tenten pointed. "You've been staring off all night whenever you aren't badgering one of us. So tell me what you're thinking about."

"I said nothing." Ino added with crossing her arms over her chest as if it was a sign to say that it was final. "Just drop it."

"Come on Ino-pig, Tenten is right."

"Y-yeah. Is there something wrong?"

Ino fumed silently but didn't say anything. Again, she accidently risked a glance into the direction of the other teams table, giving away a certain end where a certain man sat.

Sakura, Tenten, and Hinata leaned over to see if they could tell exactly who Ino was staring at but were scared back into their seats when Ino flashed from her thoughts again. "Will you guys just drop it?!"

"Come on and tell us!" Tenten pleaded, but Sakura was too busy watching Ino pout and sulk to herself, hating how she was foolish enough to look when the three girls across the table were on her case. Again she couldn't resist when a loud laughter sounded over the others. She knew that laugh. Unwillingly she glanced at the corner of her eye to see Hidan look at her before grinning wickedly and winking. That was it. She couldn't hold the blush rising to her cheeks and the twitch of her lips.

Tenten and Hinata watched her mask slip as it turned to what Hinata looked like when she was with Naruto. Each grinned at each other, but were unable to figure out what it was that gave her that reaction, or better yet, who.

Sakura, though had caught the mouse in its trap. With a sly grin she elbowed Tenten and pointed to Hidan at the end of the table who cursed at Deidara over something with Kakuzu joining in.

Realization dawned on the brunette and Hyuga. "Since when did you have the hots for Hidan?" Tenten mocked as she leaned forward onto the table.

Blue eyes shot open in surprise and Ino tried to form words but it came out in "I-umph-the-Howdid-Ican't-stupid….ugh!"

"Well?"

"Look! I confess, I think he has a nice body-I mean come on! Look at him!"

Sakura raised an eyebrow.

Ino saw this and glared. "I don't like him like that! Just because he's attractive doesn't mean that I'm going to fall for him!"

"Oh of course not," Hinata said under her breath making the other two girls laugh. "You're h-heart rate pumps chakra in amazing s-speed when ever you l-look at him."

"That doesn't mean anything!"

"Come on Ino, we're all girls here. Just tell us." Tenten pushed again.

"There's nothing to tell."

Sakura sighed, knowing that Ino wouldn't budge on the situation. She took her ninth drink and gulped it down, feeling more then just the alcohol working. She was incredibly light headed and was surprised at how early she was starting to crash. She was used to sake and could hold her alcohol, but with her body exhausted from the exams and lack of sleep, she was sure that it wouldn't be long until her body failed her and she got her much needed sleep.

…Maybe she should go home….

Looking over to the other table, she could see Neji watching the others cheer and laugh about past missions while Naruto and Dediara were face down onto the table sleeping away. She wondered where Lee, Kiba, Shino and Sai were at. Then again only Kiba would be the type to come to the bar. Sai probably would, but it was for the best that he didn't seeing as there was currently a room full of criminals. Kisame and Hidan were drinking shots left and right, making her wonder about Hidan's liver. Would it go bad or was he already dead? Perhaps his immortality kept him healthy and healed whenever it needed to be in perfect health? Why was she thinking about it? Was she really that tired? It was then that something seemed to go off in her head and she looked up to see a pair of eyes watching her from the opposite side of the table.

Her mind was fuzzy and she could barely register that Itachi had been glancing at her all evening long. It wasn't like it was one-sided. She had been tossing sneaky glances as well, but she wasn't sure why. Just to know where he was at, she supposed. Maybe to see if he would drink like Kisame and Hidan… Hell maybe just to look at him. It wasn't like she saw someone look so….calm and welcoming but in the same breath, cold and dangerous. She couldn't help her mind from wondering to what he would be like on a mission. Would he be the same unpredictable man she saw now? Or would he be cold like the killer he was? Kisame she could handle but something else came to mind. Though she didn't trust Itachi and still was determined to know the truth about the massacre of his clan, she couldn't help but wonder why he seemed to always save her. When ever he was near and she needed help, he had come at the perfect time. First at the bridge and then in the forest with Kabuto. And strangely enough….she didn't mind being saved by him…Was it because he acknowledged her strength when many others didn't? That had to be it….It was the only explanation.

"Sakura? Hey forhead!" Ino yelled, finally getting the coral-haired kunoichi's attention.

Sakura quickly snapped out of her musing and looked to Ino. "I asked how your team was doing."

"Oh. It's fine I guess. We trained and then I healed Itachi's eyes a few times, but he is far from finished. Kisame keeps me entertained and there is always something to do. Other then that it's really boring."

"Tell me more about Itachi," Tenten encouraged. "He seems so…mysterious."

"Well there's your answer right there," Sakura said with a yawn, proud that she had thought of a perfect lie. "He is very mysterious and I haven't learned anything about him."

"And why not? I mean he's a looker-no lying there," Ino teased.

"Why don't you go ask him," Sakura said quietly and rested her head in her arms, still holding her new mask.

"Are you crazy? I think I have a better chance at asking Hidan not to kill the next helpless old lady crossing the street!"

"Is h-he really that b-bad?" Hinata asked shakily.

"Yes!! Yuki was on his list of who to kill, but I was lucky enough to walk in just in time!"

"N-no I mean Uchiha-san," Hinata said before the realization donned on her. "What did you say?"

"Don't worry. Kiba took him safely to you," Ino waved off and scowled at Sakura's lack of reaction. At least Tenten was wide eyed and speechless at what she just said, Hinata wasn't far behind. But Ino paid them no mind as she poked Sakura in the arm. "Hey- I was still talking!"

Poke-poke-poke…

"Sa-ku-ra…"

Poke-poke-poke…

Poke-poke-POKE!

Sakura was trying to ignore Ino, but the poking was insistent. Just when she had enough, she looked up to see Ino with her poking finger hanging frozen in mid-air. The table was quiet and they were not even looking at the drowsy kunoichi, but instead were too focused on something behind her.

Furrowing her brows, she looked back before jumping in fright at the rather close body of Uchiha Itachi.

"Kami, you scared me," she said with a hand on her forehead. She turned to look at the others who hadn't taken their eyes from him. Again she spun in her chair to look at him, but sleep was coming for her. "What are you doing?"

Itachi saw her eyes shut slightly and knew she was beyond tired. With a small smirk, he pulled her chair out just enough to help her stand. "You've had enough for tonight," he said as he took a step back to see if she could handle it.

"I was going to turn in anyway…" she drawled out and wobbled slightly before gripping the table. "Damn Kakashi isn't here to take me back home," she mumbled to herself, but Itachi heard.

Without another word, he swept Sakura gracefully into his arms and slowly disappeared from the bar in dark grey smoke. Tenten, Ino and Hinata blinked a few times, each thinking the same thing.

"I must be dreaming…"

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

Itachi was aware that no one else had seen them leave, but he really didn't care if they did. It wasn't his concern if their expectations of him were different then what they saw. He knew Sakura was in no shape to get home by her self and her friends weren't in much better condition. And let's face it; he didn't want her picking up bad habits like her shihou with falling asleep in the bars. Then he would have to regularly be looking for her at 3 in the morning at all the bars and night clubs. Not something he was interested in.

He would've left her for Kisame to get home, but that was a fools thought. Kisame was barely responsible enough to get himself home. Though, he was dependable when the time arrived. A sober or drunk Kisame was still dangerous in a fight, though it was a mystery to Itachi to this day as to how that was.

It wasn't important though. As long as his team was ready to train tomorrow then there were no complaints. He looked down to the slumbering kunoichi in his arms. She had nearly fallen asleep once he took her strain off of her feet and she was snuggled closely into his black t-shirt. A cold tendril of wind swept around them and he was pleased to see they were at their apartment door. Skillfully, he unlocked, closed, and relocked the door before making his way to Sakura's room and setting her down into her mattress. He vaguely pondered changing her clothes seeing as she hadn't changed from the exams, but he dismissed the idea, knowing it wasn't that important, so instead, he opted for covering her with the sheets before walking out to her door before stopping and looking back at her once again.

Through his blindness where he could only make out height and color……he couldn't help but wonder what she really looked like…….

Well there you go. Like I said, there was more of Itachi in it. As for the next chapter, things start to pick up as a mission is assigned…..

Oh, boy! Can't wait till that comes!!!

Anywho, please review and let me know what you think. I'll have the next update the beginning of next week!!

And what did you think about Hidan and Ino? ^w^

Review please!! I want to know what you think so far! It really is appreciated!

Until next time!

Ja ne!