A/N: Wow it's been forever since I last posted something. In my defense I had a lot of things to do these past few years. I had started writing my own book which I hope to see on the shelves of nearby bookstores real soon (if I could get a publisher anyways). Also family drama and a virus killing my computer (those days were horrible for me, I felt like I had nothing to live for anymore as everything I had written was gone, just like that!).

Now I have a new computer and I am now saving everything I do on a flash drive, even going to far as to writing it on paper too just in case.

Anyways, I had a couple chapters made for this story but as I had stated before; all my work had disappeared. Now I have to think of something new and a direction for this story to go. Not to worry though the story will go on and I will finish it. It may not be every month as I have other things to do but I will try to post on a regular basis.

Also, I know some of you noticed that Sakura's parents had died in the prologue but her father was present in the first chapter. Don't worry it was not a mistake and you'll see why soon…or soon-ish.

This story won't only be about the Akatsuki and the fourth ninja war; it will also be about Sakura and her family. Not only will family secrets be revealed but also Konoha secrets.

I will try to follow the story line as much as possible but have in mind that I have changed quite a few things so most things won't appear in my story, like when Sakura and Sasuke get put into teams. Because Itachi took Sasuke with him they will be a bit OOC.

Kay then, let the story continue! :D

Disclaimer: I in no way, shape, or form own Naruto or any of its characters. I, however, do own this story.

"Thoughts."

"Inner."

"Normal speech."

"Black Zetsu."

'Jutsu'

Please R&R

Chapter 3

Sakura sat on her haunches near the fire place the bi-colored plant-man had made. It had scared her when he had literally popped out of the ground and grabbed her by her paws. At first she had thought of running away or using whatever powers inner had said she had but the man hadn't given her a chance.

Instead of putting her back on the ground he put her under his arm as if she were an object and began to make camp before saying he was an ally. Whether he really was or not was left to be seen.

She looked around the area, still in her wolf-pup form, her ears swerving for any signs of Itachi or the plant-man being near.

"Have you thought of running away while that thing was gone? Oh wait," Inner said in sarcastic manner, frown clearly seen on her slightly larger than normal forehead. "We can't cause that bastard tied us up like an average mangy dog!"

Sakura looked slightly at the rope that hung from her neck to a nearby tree. Inner was right, this was humiliating. She was glad none of her cousins were with her at the moment for she was sure they'd make fun of her. At the thought guilt settled in causing her ears to pin at her head as a small whine formed in her chest.

She had almost forgotten the reason her cousins weren't with her at the moment. Though her cousins weren't the nicest people she never wished anything bad to happen to them.

Sakura looked down at her paws in thought. She had left the Haruno compound in such a hurry, trying to get away from that evil man, that she hadn't stop to see if any of her family had made it out.

"I doubt that bastard left anyone alive because then whoever survived would've said who was to blame. The only reason you're still breathing is because of Itachi." Inner said her voice almost a growl.

At that moment however her ears perked up at a slight shuffling of clothes and her paws felt the small quake of someone walking nearby. Her nose lifted to the air and caught the familiar scents of Itachi and Sasuke.

They made their way into the camp once she turned in the direction her senses had pointed her to. She instantly stood in happiness and wanted to make her way to them but was stopped by the rope that tugged at her neck.

"Sakura!" Sasuke said as he slid off of Itachi's back and ran to her, his arms circling her smaller form.

After the small hug they shared he made quick work of the rope and set her free.

"Sorry about that Haruno-san, we just didn't want you running off while we went searching for your friends." Black Zetsu said as he appeared in the camp, half his form still submerged in the ground.

"How do you know about Sakura?" Sasuke asked as he stepped in front of her in order to hide her form from the plant-man.

"Sasuke." Itachi reprimanded, keeping an eye on the shinobi before them.

Though he was grateful for finding and keeping Sakura safe he knew better than to simply trust someone just because they saved him and his charges.

"But, aniki! You said that Sakura's secret had to be a secret from everyone else except important people from the clans. He isn't from the clans." Sasuke said as he pointed to the ninja.

The ninja made his way out of the earth completely and held his hands up in a placating manner. "I know a lot of secrets. That's my job in the Akatsuki, which I was told I had to show you the way to." The white half replied.

He then turned to Itachi with a serious expression. "We were told you'd be coming, but we weren't told you'd be bringing brats with you."

"I don't have to explain myself to you. I wish to speak to your leader." Itachi said.

"Then you'll have to wait until tomorrow. We have a long ways to go still." Zetsu replied showing no emotion.

"We will wait here for the night." Itachi said and motioned for Sasuke and Sakura to go to his side.

Sasuke and Sakura did as they were told and laid at his side. Though they hadn't brought any sleeping mats with them they didn't complain. The ground would have to do for however long they needed. After all; t was better than being dead. Sasuke curled around Sakura as she gave off enough heat in her wolf-pup form to keep him from being cold.

"As you wish." Zetsu said and sat on the other side of the camp.

Once they were sure the children were asleep Itachi looked up from the fire to the ninja who was still wide awake.

With a small, barely audible sigh Itachi returned to staring at the fire before him. That night his parents had looked him straight in the eyes and told him how proud of him they were even though they knew his blade would soon take their lives.

They didn't seem afraid and they made no attempt to save their lives. Though he had initially thought to spare Sasuke the truth and have him live a semi normal life he couldn't do it. He couldn't leave Sasuke alone in a village where he would be constantly reminded of his family's demise. He couldn't bear to have Sasuke be fed lies about him either.

Even though he loved his brother he was going to keep the promise he made to his parents before ending their lives; to protect Sasuke. If that meant telling him the truth and taking him out of the village he had once loved so much then so be it.

He would know everything. He would know the Hokage had forced his hand and had been the one to kill the Haruno clan. He would know just the type of man the Hokage was. And with the help of this organization they will bring peace to not only the Village hidden in the leaf but the entire ninja nation.

All that was left was to see if that man; Madara Uchiha, was someone that could be trusted. If he wasn't….Itachi didn't know what he could do. He was taking a gamble to walk into this man's home and follow his orders. Not to mention he'd be walking there with children in hiss stead.

Out of the corner of his eyes a small, red, light brought him out of his reverie and caused him to look at his side, his muscles already tight in case he had to move quickly to get the children out of harms' way.

What he was not expecting however, was to find Sakura's form pulsing with that feint red light and then becoming a small girl once more.

Itachi's eyes slightly widened when her form appeared nude beside Sasuke who was at the moment fast asleep and unaware of what was going on. Itachi immediately took off his shirt and put it on Sakura, careful to not wake her up and cause her embarrassment.

After dressing her he shot a dirty look to the ninja on the other side of the camp only to find him looking away.

"As he should." Itachi thought with a small frown.

The shirt he had put on her was a little big on her, which was a good thing but he knew he'd have to buy her something decent to wear. He couldn't exactly walk around without a shirt now could he? Neither could she walk around half naked.

Once the sun was beginning to rise in the horizon he woke up Sasuke and Sakura and had them hang onto him as he followed the ninja through the trees. Sasuke rode on his back while Sakura was in his arms.

Sakura had been surprised to find herself back in human form and wearing nothing but Itachi's dark blue shirt. Still her embarrassment was short lived as they began to make way to Amegakure. They had no time for explanations or small chit-chat, Itachi wanted to cover as much ground as he could though he preferred to be in Amegakure and the Akatsuki's hide out by the end of the day.

They stopped a couple times to eat or get a drink but other than that the pace never slowed and by the time they did they were drenched from the rain that covered the village before them. Still, Itachi didn't let the children down and he wouldn't until he was sure it was safe…and dry.

Everything around them seemed grey; the sky, the buildings, and even the people who looked at them with curiousness. Though they seemed curious they didn't get in their way and even went as far as to go into their homes.

Zetsu however, continued to lead them to the highest tower where he said the organization started and was held. Once the entered they found the first floor of the tower to be devoid of any furniture or color. It was as grey as it had been outside.

Once Itachi made sure that there were no traps he put Sasuke and Sakura down. Though Sasuke stayed close to Itachi it was Sakura that held onto his hand, pressing herself against his leg.

They made their way to the highest floor, passing by the kitchen and dining area as well as a room that had a television and couches. They didn't look as inviting as the ones they were used to but it did calm them to see normal things within the tower. The floors above that was nothing but halls of rooms with closed doors. What was behind those closed doors, they had yet to find out.

When they arrived to the highest floor Zetsu knocked two times and opened the door, letting Itachi and his charges enter first before closing the door.

In the room were seven people six males and one female. They all sat at a table in which a man with orange hair and ringed eyes sat as head of the group.

To his left sat a woman with blue hair and black eyes. In front of her Zetsu made his way and sat. Next to him sat a man with blue colored skin and shark-like features on his face.

Across from that man sat a boy with red hair and brown eyes. Beside him sat a man with long black hair and yellow eyes that reminded the children of a snake.

Across from him sat a man that wore a mask which kept most of his face hidden; only revealing his eyes which were green in color.

Itachi bowed to the man at the head of the table; to which Sasuke and Sakura did not do as they were too busy looking at the people in the room.

"Uchiha Itachi, I had expected you to be here sooner and only you." The man said as his eyes looked to the children that stood close to their guardian.

"My apologies Leader-sama, I made my way as fast as I could. As for the children I have brought them under my care in hopes that they'd be good future members." Itachi said though his voice and expression showed no emotion. Though that was not the reason he supposed saying so would keep them safe for a while.

"Future members?" The member asked then nodded his head, "Agreed."

"Come sit, and I will introduce you to the members of Akatsuki." Pein said.

As the introductions were made and Itachi received his Akatsuki cloak and ring they sat beside the man with the mask. The children sat quietly beside him, trying not to make eye contact with the snake man or any of the other members.

"And the children?" The leader asked causing the two to look at him.

"My younger brother Sasuke and our friend Sakura Haruno." Itachi replied.

Throughout the entire talk Sakura couldn't help but feel the snake-man's eyes constantly make their way to her and Sasuke, it sent shivers down her spine. Sasuke too had noticed and though the man was dangerous Sasuke sent glares at him.

"Has he awakened the sharingan?" The snake-man asked, his eyes leaving a moment from Sakura's form to study Sasuke.

"Not yet." Itachi replied curtly, not sure to distrust the man or not seeing as he had left the hidden village they were both from.

He knew of Orochimaru and new that he was not someone he wanted left alone with his brother, whether he had awakened the sharingan or not. And from the looks he was giving Sakura he couldn't leave her with him either, not that he had even thought of doing such a thing.

"And you little girl? Have you any dōjutsu?" Orochimaru asked as he looked at her with an unreadable expression.

Sakura looked up at him then at Itachi with her green, pupil-less eyes, unsure of how she should answer.

"As you already know, Orochimaru, the Haruno clan has the Nisshoku." Sasori said in a calm, emotionless, voice.

"I know that. I only wonder if she has it, I would like to know what it does. Don't you?" Orochimaru said as he looked to those around him who also sent curious gazes at her.

"That is true. The Haruno clan never did care to share its abilities with anyone. Now that it is assumed that she is the last one, we would like to know its abilities." Pein said and turned to the girl in question. "Do you know its powers, child?"

Sakura once more looked to Itachi for what she should do.

"Sakura is too young to have been taught anything about her family's dōjutsu just as Sasuke hasn't. Once she awakens it she will have to learn about it herself, once she does it will be her decision whether she'll tell anyone or not." Itachi said

"Surely you'd know then, seeing as you were to marry her." Orochimaru said as he looked down at Itachi.

"Neither I nor Sasuke were told of her powers as they wanted to wait until after the ceremony." Itachi replied in a calm manner.

"Very well then, Konan will show you to your rooms." Pein said as he nodded to Konan who immediately stood. Itachi, followed by Sasuke and Sakura, stood and followed her out of the room and down to where they had seen the hall of locked doors.

Once they were on the third floor Konan opened one of the doors on the left side of the hall. "This will be your room Itachi-san."

The room had a red queen sized bed across the room from the door a closet at its right and a door leading to a small bathroom to its left. A window was atop the bed and a fan was set on the ceiling. The walls were white and bare of any ornaments.

Itachi nodded in approval. "And the children?" He asked the woman who still stood in the doorway.

"For now they can share the room across from yours since we didn't think to prepare for other guests." She said though she didn't seem annoyed by the fact.

She made her way to the room opposite of his and opened the door to show it was arranged the same way his was. He nodded in approval once more. The children at his side though ran straight in with smiles on their faces at seeing a big bed.

Surely with that bed they wouldn't be as sore as they had been in the morning from sleeping on the ground.

"If you are in need of clothes or other such necessities you can go into the village and buy what you need from their stores. You can get as much as you want and put it on the Akatsuki tab, it will be taken out of whatever you make from missions. Make sure to wear the cloak though so the villagers know where your allegiance lies, it will make them less wary." Konan said. With that she walked down the hall and up the stairs.

"Itachi-kun, are we going to live here from now on?" Sakura asked from where she sat upon the bed. At this Sasuke stopped looking through the many boxes in the closet and looked to his brother.

Itachi nodded and motioned for them to follow him. "We should go buy supplies and some clothes."

Sakura and Sasuke nodded and followed after him, making their way out of the tower and into the village. This time around the villagers greeted them with warm smiles. Other children were let out of their homes and were running around, playing their games of tag or other. It didn't seem as gloomy as it had when they first arrived, despite the weather.

"I think I'm going to like it here." Sakura said with a smile as she and the Uchiha brothers went about the village, meeting new people as they did.

Aniki: older brother.

Nisshoku: Eclipse (from what my friend said anyways)

Dōjutsu: Eye technique (like the sharingan or byakugan)