The next day
Sakura woke with a start, glaring at her alarm for waking her up. She was definitely not a morning person, mainly because Naruto would scream at her on missions to get up. Which ended with Sakura strangling him or yelling his ear off. Blinking her eyes once more Sakura realized she was in her bed.
Wait a minute, how did I get in my bed? I thought I fell asleep on the couch. This is strange I never sleep walked before. Hmmm I thought I sensed someone in the apartment after I went to sleep. I guess it was just my imagination and I just crawled into bed without even realizing it, I was pretty tired yesterday.
This was true, she was tired from training with her team. Well not really training, more like Sasuke and Naruto trying to kill each other and Sakura being forced to train with Kakashi. That lasted all of ten minutes before he said they should take it easy in case one of the boys needed help walking home. In Sakura's opinion it looked like Kakashi just wanted to read his book.
The alarm beside her kept screaming for her to get up.
Stupid alarm shut up already!
Instead of turning it off, she just unplugged the thing. She needed to get out of bed, she was leaving on a mission soon, they would be gone at least a week to the land of waves. Jumping in the shower, Sakura winced at the cold water that hit her body.
Quickly shampooing her long pink tresses, Sakura pondered over what their mission would be. It was strange team seven was escorting another person to the land of waves. She figured they wouldn't get any more of those considering what happened last time.
But the mission was a success, even if everyone got hurt but me, all I did was stand in the way. I couldn't even protect our client. Maybe I could help the team if Kakashi would actually train me, all of his attention is for the boys. I guess I should try training on my own, Kakashi sensei said I might have a talent for charka control.
Sakura got out of the shower and decided that she didn't want to wear her usual attire today. After searching through her closet for ten minutes Sakura selected on a tank top and a pair of mid-thigh shorts. Not wanting to ponder on her hair she pulled it back into a braid.
Maybe I should cut my hair at least the dead ends. It really is a hassle to take care of and Sasuke isn't interested anyway. There is not enough time to do that now, I will have to do it when I get back.
Sakura grabbed her gear and left her apartment to meet the others at the gate. She was in no rush since Naruto and Kakashi sensei were always the last to arrive at meeting points. Before approaching the gates, Sakura could see three figures waiting. Sakura thinking she was late quicken her pace to a fast walk; reaching the gate she found Sasuke and two others she didn't recognize.
"Why don't you admit it little cousin you want to be just like me" declared one of the two, who Sakura assumed was also an Uchiha by his looks.
"Shisui will you just shut up already" muttered Sasuke.
"But it is so fun to mess with my little cousin, we've never been on a mission together, and I get to pester you for the next week! Hey who is this pretty girl?" Shisui inquired noticing Sakura standing there.
Shisui is going on a mission with Sasuke? Does that mean that they are coming with us? Is Shisui really an Uchiha, he sure doesn't act like the ones I've met.
"That's Sakura Haruno we are on the same team." Sasuke replied uninterested in hopes that Shisui would leave him alone.
"Aren't Harunos a civilian clan?" Shisui interrogated, looking down at Sakura.
"Maybe I didn't want to be a civilian" snorted Sakura.
"So why is that? Last time I checked most civilian clans don't have any special skills when it comes to being a ninja" the flamboyant Uchiha announced.
"Oh I don't know, maybe it has something to do with the fact that before my parents died they made my cousin the clan heir" announced Sakura getting irritated.
It doesn't matter anyway; I've lived on my own for five years now without any help from the Haruno clan and I don't plan on going back. I made my life what it is and I plan to say with it.
Finishing her thought the other male figure looked at her, his eyes were the same color as Sasuke's, but this man's seemed to soften at the sight of her making her blush and turn away. In the distance she could make out an outline of blond hair darting toward them.
Itachi had heard Sakura approach. He did not want to engage in conversation just yet, but chose to observe her instead, not that he was one for conversation anyway. She looked nice; she had her normal pink hair in a braid. It suited her, girly but at the same time showed her strength on the inside. But she wasn't in her usual sorts and dress; today she choose a tank top and some shorts. It suited her, the outfit alone made her look like a mature kunoichi.
"Oh I don't know, maybe it has something to do with the fact that before my parents died they made my cousin the clan heir."
This declaration puzzled Itachi. He knew that she was part of the main clan, but what he didn't know was that she was once the heir. So many questions flew through his mind. Why did they choose her cousin if she was the heir? Has she been alone all this time? If she has no help from her clan how does she survive, D ranked missions don't make that much. But what really struck him was that she didn't seem sad about not being the heir, just the fact that her own parents choose someone else.
Surely she could have been trained on proper civilian culture. She seems fit to do that, rather than a ninja.
Their eyes briefly met, Itachi's typical blank eyes soften only for her. No one had ever made him do that. He hardly knew the girl, yet she had already had his heart. Sakura blushed turning her head away, shielding him from looking at her face.
"Sorry that didn't work out princess" Shisui smirked. Sakura fumed.
She had not turned around however Itachi could feel the anger rolling off her. For such a petite girl she sure was admitting killing intent toward his cousin. This was not going to end well for Shisui, before the mission even started he was going to anger the girl. Making the others' lives miserable, but not Itachi. It would give him the opportunity to see her true personality.
The knucklehead ninja himself finally made his appearance running late as usual, but not as late as the copy ninja.
"Oh hey Sakura-chan, how's it go… oh no" Naruto her incredibly loud teammate roared, quickly noticing his livid pink haired team mate. Turning to Sasuke he grilled, "Did someone call her a nickname?" Blancing at the sight of Sakura smoldering rage.
"Yes, Shisui is a moron," stated Sasuke.
"Shisui? Who the hell is Shisui?" Yelled Naruto looking around, finally noticing the other Uchihas standing there.
"That's my annoying older cousin dobe," replied Sasuke.
"I didn't know you had a family, how come we haven't met them till now teme? And who is that other guy?"
"What's it even matter if you've met my family? I just told you that was my cousin dobe." Sasuke replied going to stand by the outer wall of the village.
"Not that one the one over there by the tree teme!" screamed Naruto chasing after Sasuke. "Answer me Sasuke who is that?"
The blond might act foolish, however he was smart enough to escape Sakura's rage.
"What all I did was call her princess" Itachi's clueless cousin muttered.
What shocked Itachi was Sakura never said a word. She calmly walked up to his cousin and stomped on his foot rather hard. Itachi was intrigued, she had guts to do that to an anbu member. Not only that Shisui appeared to be holding his foot in pain, Sakura had released charka from her foot at the exact moment she stomped his foot.
Sakura has well above normal charka control for her rank. Most chunin can't control charka as she just did. If she wants to be a kunoichi she should use that control to her advantage.
Itachi could not finish his thought for a small poof had announced the arrival of Kakahsi and Genma.
"Good you're all here, now we don't have to hunt anyone down." Kakashi sensei said scratching the back of his head.
It was then Sakura and Naruto preformed their usual routine of accusing Kakashi sensei being late. While their Uchiha team member just strolled over sighing and shaking his head.
"Actually I wasn't late, I was picking up a member of our temporally team. Alright let's get introductions out of the way. Anbu team one this is Team seven Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and you already know Sasuke. Team Seven this is Anbu team one Genma Shiranui, Shisui Uchiha, and their team captain Itachi Uchiha."
"Wait Kakashi sensei why are well all going to be on the same team. I thought this was a D ranked mission," Sakura asked curious.
"It is but with what happened last time the Hokage didn't want to be too careful. He also thinks this will be a good influence on this team. Well at least Itachi will be, I'm not so sure about the other two just yet. But let's get moving, if we leave now we can get there by tomorrow morning." Kakashi explained continuing to give the team instructions.
Itachi let his mind wander, he already knew this, and he had after all asked the Hokage if his team could accompany team seven. The Uchiha stated that it was for the benefit of seeing his brother's progress, it just so happened that the one he cherished was a member of his brother's team. This way he could protect her if necessary and get to know her. He was tired of living in the shadows of her life, he doubted she knew it was him that had found her five years ago at her parent's death.
Flashback
He approached the room with caution, rounding the corner he spotted blood on the floor and splattered over the walls. But what perplexed him was the sight of a young girl cowering in the room, while a shadow loomed over her. Somehow the shadow heard Itachi, the silhouette turned toward Itachi, and without using his sharingan there was no mistake for who those yellow eyes belonged.
With excellent speed Itachi materialized in front of the girl. Taking his fighting stance he waited for Orochimaru to make is move. Itachi glanced back at the girl spotting her vibrant pink hair. This was Sasuke's classmate, Sakura.
"Well, well if it isn't Itachi Uchiha in the flesh. How wonder full to see you again. I would love to stay and reminisce but my work here is done. Until next time Ita-kun." With that the snake vanished.
Itachi turned toward Sakura, he knelt down but saw she was staring at the bloodied bodies on the floor.
End of Flashback
That day was a shining light into Itachi's dark world, it had given him a purpose in life, to protect Sakura and ensure her happiness. He had yet to determine what the true intentions were for Orochimaru. With his last meeting with the snake on a mission, it was made very clear Orochimaru was trying to pull at Itachi's heart and mind when he mention Sakura.
All Itachi knew at this point was he needed her to trust him so he could stay close to her. Once they were to the land of Waves Itachi would take over as team captain. He would pair all of them up with someone they would stay with until the end of the mission. This was the only way he could get Sakura to trust him, by pairing her with himself.
Seeing that Kakashi had quit giving instructions, they took to formation and set off toward the land of waves.
Ok this one is a little longer. But I promise chapter five will be long and intense. I already started working on it. Please review and tell me what you think. Also whose point of view is better Itachi's, Sakura's, back and forth, or third person? I hope to get the next chapter out soon, but it may take some time, and I will try to write it in the point of view most popular.
Oh and meriamdz I hope the flashbacks make the story less confusing. If not I will see what I can do. Thank you to FairiesDescent for staying with my story and reviewing it. Thanks for reading and reviewing to everyone!