The morning after her birthday party, Sakura told her Tou-sama that she wanted to be a ninja. And after the initial shock, Pein had accepted to train her in the ninja ways, and even told her that the other members would help her train too.
777
Itachi couldn't help but see some of his little brother in Sakura, who was running laps around the garden with the cherry blossom tree Zetsu had given her for her birthday, the same determined expression in her face as she vowed to become as strong as all the other Akatsuki members; but unlike Sasuke, she didn't want to train in order to learn flashy moves, but to be able to protect the people she now called family, just like they had done with her in the past.
And so, Itachi found himself poking Sakura's forehead after she had finished her laps, just before telling her that she had some crunches and pull ups to do.
Seeing her happily accept his orders and get started on her pull ups, Itachi realized that, while she wasn't Sasuke, she was still someone she was willing to protect.
She was someone Itachi could call his younger sister.
777
At the end of the day, Sakura dropped ungracefully into the teddy bear Tobi had given her, the thing had proved even more comfortable than her own bed, and hugged the shark Sushi-chan had given her to her chest.
Her body was sore, but she couldn't help but smile. She had endured worse when she lived with her father, but she was still happy.
Because she was learning to be a ninja, a strong and powerful one that can protect people, just like the Akatsuki had done for her.
They had given her a home, food, water and a bed to sleep in.
But they had also given her happy memories, had given her hugs, had flashed smiles at her.
They had given her a family.
Sakura knew that she had to help them. Protect them. Be by their side when they needed her the most.
So Sakura got up from her teddy bear, paying no mind to her sore muscles, and started a series of crunches and sit ups in her room.
She refused to leave her family behind.
777
Root's headquarter had always been like a maze. Danzo had made sure of that.
The maze held Archives, Offices, what could be called a Hospital, Training Rooms and Cells.
And Danzo had reserved one of those cells for the pink haired child one of his operatives had reported lived with the Akatsuki.
His years of experience told him that a child trained by a criminal organization was a dangerous threat to the Village he protected from the shadows.
But they also told him that they could use the child.
Anyone with eyes could have noticed that the Akatsuki cared deeply for the girl, if the reports were true –he knew they were- so it was a matter of time before he could get a hold of the girl.
Then, not only could he get information on each Akatsuki member, their contacts, projects and techniques; he could also bait them.
He was sure the pink haired child was valuable.
And with the right words and seals, she would make a good Root operative.
