The bed seemed to shift, groaning under the weight of a heavier individual. She could barely make out the subtle, deep breathing that was characteristic of a large man. He was close. Too close.

Sakura's eyes shot open, but she did not stir. The kunai she always kept under her pillow finally would be useful. All those days Ino laughed at me for this...you're wrong pig...it has come in handy.

She clutched it carefully, then in one courageous moment whirled around and pointed the tip of the knife at the unfazed face of -

ITACHI?!

"Sakura..." Itachi murmured in his deep voice, "It's been a long time. You've really grown."

He wore a simple black robe adorned with a single, small Uchiha fan on sewn on the back. His hair was pulled back into his characteristic ponytail, with two loose bangs bordering his face. His weight pulled the mattress down where he sat on the edge of her bed, and he smelled...so much like Sasuke...

But...what was he doing here...?

Especially since...

he's dead!

Sakura shot up from where she sat with a gasp interrupted by the sudden crash of her head on the ceiling.

She grasped her head for a moment, trying to process it all. Her head was swirling with questions.

"I-Itachi!" she exclaimed incredulously, trying to catch her breath -

" - is this genjutsu?"

Itachi's eyebrows furrowed, then a deep, rumbling noise escaped his throat.

He was...laughing?!

"No, Sakura," Itachi explained, "This is not genjutsu...I don't believe we have ever met under the pretext of my genjutsu, for which I am thankful...for your sake."

Sakura paused to consider his words. He was right. Sakura had merely heard stories from Kakashi and Tsunade, about the brutality of his genjutsu. But that aside...what was he doing here?

Seeming to read her mind, the cunning man replied easily, "I suppose you're wondering what I am doing here..."Sakura gulped, trying to mask her surprise.

"I will explain myself in due time...but first...let's take a brief walk. Will you accompany me?"

Sakura nodded hesitantly, waiting for the missing-nin to first rise before standing herself. She followed his tall, darkened silhouette over the threshold and out of her apartment and into the moonlit world outside. The air was crisp and cool, and a breeze took away Sakura's breath. She hoped Itachi didn't notice.

She should've known better.

The large Uchiha robe landed heavily over her shoulders.

"T-Thanks," Sakura stammered embarrassedly. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a hint of a smile on Itachi's face. All of his actions up to this point seemed so contrary to the Itachi of Konoha's rumors...but somehow, she sensed that the Itachi of the rumors was not the true Itachi. Ever since his name had been pardoned from Konoha's records, she knew something was up. Kakashi hasn't announced anything about it yet...but I've always been suspicious.

She followed Itachi in silence into a clearing near the old training grounds on the outskirts of Konoha. It was there that he stopped.

She had always been perplexed by Sasuke's relationship to his elder brother. In the beginning, it had been so concrete, so black and white: Itachi murdered the entire Uchiha clan in a night in cold blood, leaving his brother helplessly behind. She had hated him then, for the turmoil he had caused her love. However, after Itachi's death, something in Sasuke had snapped. She watched as his grief and anger overtook him, as he joined the Akatsuki, as he vowed to destroy Konoha.

That fateful day where he had his hands clutched shakily around her throat, Naruto had mentioned something about the truth. She watched Sasuke's eyes widen in shock, then darken and smolder with hatred. Yet she had never understood why...and perhaps that was the reason she stood next to one of the most dangerous men in all shinobi history.

Itachi interrupted her thoughts.

"I am very glad you have chosen to remain good friends with my brother, despite everything that has happened in the past," Itachi murmured, a small smile adorning his face, "You and Naruto are very forgiving."

Sakura blushed, gazing toward the ground. "Of course," she replied easily, "Sasuke has always been...very important to me." Itachi nodded, knowingly.

"I am aware you are also very important to my brother."

Sakura bit her lip, unconvinced.

"You don't believe so?"

"Oh, no, it's nothing like that. I know he thinks of me as a dear friend."

"Yet you are displeased."

"Not displeased, I just wish...I wish we could be closer."

"I am confident my brother feels the same."

"Huh?"

"Never mind that. May I show you something...?"

"Um...sure...what is it?"

"You must trust me."

Sakura paused.

"Do you?"

Sakura paused for a moment, avoiding his eyes at the instruction of Kakashi. If he is here...it must be for good reason...he's been pardoned, too, right? It may have something to do with Sasuke...

"I trust you," she stated with a conviction that surprised her, and when she gazed unabashedly into Itachi's charcoal eyes, she knew she surprised him too.

Itachi nodded, and soon she was staring into a sea of crimson, spinning tomoe.