Chapter 14

immoral thoughts

Walking into the apartment sakura dropped her wet and mud covered sandals to the side as she padded barefoot into the hall, opening the linen closet. Itachi following behind her. Depositing his Sandals next to hers.

"Here." She said handing him a towel. If you give me your clothes I'll throw them in the wash. Should be done in about an hour." She retorted, pulling a pair set of jonin pants she had from when kakashi or naruto would end up here, and placing them on top.

"You first." He said, setting the bundle down on the hall table. "Your shivering." He said rubbing his hands up and down her arms. She felt the friction heat her chilled bones.

"It's ok real-"

"No sakura," he reached behind her and grabbed a towel off the top of the stack, placing it in her hands. "You first. I can wait." He turned then walking back into the living room.

"Ok. Fine." She turned into the bathroom. In that moment she was partially greatful to him. She had tried to be a good host, however it seemed he was eager to be the hero. Who was she to refuse?

She turned on the shower letting the water heat up as she stripped her sodden clothes off and tossed them in the basket. Then noticing the clothes on the ground she mentally chided herself picking up the discarded dirtys and put them in the basket as well.

Stepping into the now steaming shower she tensed then relaxed.

The heat seeped into her icy veins as she stood under the water. Unable to remember the last time she'd felt so, so peaceful.

After a few minutes she scrubbed down, running the dirt and mud from her body. Turning the water off and toweling down. Quickly realizing the biggest mistake. No fresh clothes. Damn it.

She opened the door slightly, making a quick look and see, Itachi was not in the hall, or at the edge of the living room where she'd left him. His chakra was still masked. She did the only thing she could do, she made a dash for her room, towel wrapped snuggly to her.

Closing the door with a flourish, she turned. To find him looking at her pictures on her dresser. He had one in his hand. Back to her, but she knew he was aware of her presence.

She squeezed the towel to her breasts.

"Um. Excuse me." She mumbled, he turned. She reddened. He strode to her, standing in front of her as she found an interesting spot on her wall.

"Your excused, sakura." He said leaning in and brushing a damp cluster of hair off her cheek and pushing it behind her ear.

"Um… I didn't…I didn't realize you were in here." She said. If that paint made any movement, she'd know.

"Sorry, I was being a little nosy." He bowed his forehead to hers, leaning into her. Hand still resting on her cheek. "You smell…like strawberry's." He sniffed and nuzzled her.

"I…um I think you should bathe now." Her cheeks flushed. Her hands tucked the towel even tighter.

"Do I make you that uncomfortable?" He said other hand following the scars up her wrist. Tracing the deep groves of it.

"Um…" she felt tingles where his hands touched. "Not…not uncomfortable Per say…but," she pushed his hands back, keeping one hand on the towel. "I'm really not ready for this," she motioned between the two of them. "Not right now."

"I won't force you, sakura. Never." He breathed. "When your ready, i will be here." He stepped around her opened the door and closed it.

She stood a moment. Reeling in the moment. Was this what it was supposed to be? Heated moments with sweet touches? Caresses?

She had never truely experienced this kind of feeling.

Her mind only knew the rough unsolicited painful moments of lust. She peered down at her towel. Discarding it to the floor. She looked over at her mirror, at her scarred body, not just outside, but inside as well. She traced the lines marring her wrists.

Was this what it felt to be wanted?

How could anyone want this?

How had she let anyone see through to this?

She pushed the thoughts aside and dressed. Pulling her gloves on first. All the way to her elbows. Hiding her shame.


She stood there. Looking out the slider to the rain that poured down over the village. She had already warmed up, and brewed tea. Said hot cup of tea in her hands. Something felt lighter. The sense of time felt like it had stopped. She smiled into her cup, the shower was still going, Itachi was getting cleaned up. She had a change of clothes from Sai. Didn't think he would mind if Itachi used it, seeing as how they were about the same size, not sure if he would wear the top however, the jonin pants should fit. She strode into the kitchen, leaning on the counter. The heater was turned up to break the chill.

She heard the water turn off, setting her cup down she pulled out the leftovers from lunch the day before and started to preheat them.

Bare feet padded into the kitchen behind her.

"Take a seat Uchiha San. I'll have some food warmed in a moment. Theirs a pot of tea on the counter."

She could feel him behind her.

"Why don't you use my name?" He said, putting his hands on either side of her. "You had no problem using it earlier." He removed one hand placing it over hers. "Why don't you sit instead, your going to burn it going that slow. I'll finish." She was pushed aside as a shirtless Itachi took the frying pan from her. She stood there for a moment, taking in his scarred chest.

He had on the black jonin pants, as she had expected the half shirt that had been discarded was not to his liking and his necklace. His hair pulled back into a loose pony tail at the nape of his neck,

"Um. Alright. Itachi." She turned the corner sitting at the breakfast nook watching him as he flipped the rice precisely. Then he turned to the fridge and pulled out a couple eggs, grabbing out another frying pan as if he lived here. "Want to explain how you know where everything is?" She mocked him.

"Don't ask questions you won't like the answers too, Sakura." He replied with a smirk.

"Fair." She retorted. Looking to the side. The picture of her and ino was still face down. She sighed. Fingers tracing the backside of the frame. A plate was set before her. The rice was heated perfectly, an it a rolled omelett sat expertly placed. "Whoa." She smiled at him. "Where'd you learn to do that?"

"Ka-San was very diligent in teaching the cooking arts to both sasuke and I." He came around sitting next to her. Handing her some chopsticks. "I cannot speak for his skills, he wasn't every patient with it."

She thought back to the monstrosities he had prepared when they were younger. "Hai." Then she took the chopsticks from him. "Let's see if it tastes as good as it looks." She took a bite of the omelett. By kami. She ate the whole thing in under two minutes. "Ok. Alright. Mikoto gets props for that one." She sighed.

He laughed. Full heartily.

"Glad it fits your tastes, princess." He took another bite.

"Princess huh? Already with the pet names?" She put her cheek in her hand. Starring up at him.

"Does it offend you?" He spoke, he was an elegant person. She realized. His manners were impecable.

"Not in the slightest." She replied. Watching him politely pick pieces to place in his mouth.

"Then do i?" He side eyed her, a slight glint.

"No, why do you ask?" She perked an eyebrow.

"Because, princess, your staring." He placed another bite in his mouth and grinned.

She narrowed her eyes. "Gomen." She turned back to the picture frame. Then she noticed it. One of the hooks to hold it in place was missing.

She picked it up, gasping and dropping it to the counter with a clatter. What staired up at her was nauseating.

The frame was gone before she could really take it in. Itachi held it between his hands.

"It has a signature on it." He said low.

"What…." She spun in his direction. "What signature?"

"It says 'to petal, love sasori.'" He said emotionless.

In the frame, the photo was torn. Inos side missing. Taped in its place, was a picture of a puppet.

A puppet with blonde hair and blue eyes.

He'd been in her home.

He'd been in the village.

He'd left his mark.


She stood motionless in the hokages office before the hour was up. She had her black anbu gear on without the vest, hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. Minus the mask.

Itachi was similarly dressed, she'd guessed he was ANBU. Had heard stories, this was just a foresight I had forgotten. The only thing giving him away was his rat mask tied over his features, long hair tied back at his nape.

Lady Tsunade looked over the picture. Then looked up to her.

"In your appartment?" She nodded. "You found this in your appartment?" She nodded again. Tsunade sighed.

A faint knock sounded on the office door. Tsunades face twitched.

"Enter." She mumbled opening up her desk.

Sai walked into the office, boar mask in place as he entered and stood at attention next to her. Boar mask in place.

"Report." Tsunade spoke crossing her fingers in front of her face.

"Can't find the shinobi that we're posted on the eastern wall. It's like they weren't there. No sign of a struggle." He spoke.

Sakura turned an look at him.

"What do you mean gone?" She stood student slamming her fists on the desk. A crack appeared.

"No sign they were ever there ma'am." Sai said.

"So the eastern gate. The closest to sakuras appartment. We have a spy. Someone feeding him information." She turned to the window. "Is there a chance he's still in the village?" She put her arms behind her back. Turning to the window, the entire time side eying sakura.

Sakura felt sweaty, shaky. 'He's here? He's close?' She felt her eye twitch, her lips tilting at the side. The smell of blood enveloped her. A killing eminence radiated.

"Sakura." Itachi said, turning his head to her leaking chakra.

She froze. Eyes turning up to Itachi.

"We're doing a full sweep now madam hokage." Sai spoke looking over at sakura.

"Well if he is, she's sending a Beacon." Tsunade scoffed. "Reel it in sakura. Control."

Sakura blinked several times staring at Itachi.

'Control.' She repeated in her head.

Slowly she reeled the chakra back in masking her presence again. Breathing deeply.

"Good. Just breathe." Itachi said looking back to tsunade. "I have a safe house, it's inside the uchiha compound."

"Sakura, you'll stay with weasel for the time being. Just until we can guarantee the village is safe." Tsunade motioned with her hand. "Weasel, you will have hawk join you." She turned back to sai. "When will we have reports from the others?"

Sai put both hands behind his back, "they were almost through the market when you asked for an update."

"Hai. Shishou, I can-"

"No. Sakura, you will stay here until we have word back." Tsunade picked up the picture, looking over it.

"Shishou, I wasn't trying to go, I just have an-"

"I said no sakura." She said more stearnly. "Have we searched her appartment throughly? Any traps?"

"Shishou, it's just-"

"I SAID NO." She yelled at sakura. She didn't even flinch. But she did fist her hands.

"Hai. I heard you Tsunade sama. But if you-"

"Kami sakura, just sto-"

"CHECK THE DAMNED GRAVEYARD!" Sakura shouted, anger filling her face.

"What?" Tsunade took a step back.

"If you would've let me finish, that picture is a damned warning." She gritted out.

Tsunade looked over the frame again. "A puppet…" she snapped her head back to boar. "Check yamanaka Inos grave immediately! Take my two personal bodyguards with you!"

Two more presences flickered into view and with that all three darted out the window.

"I hope your wrong sakura." Tsunade said the the pinkette, sakuras face down cast.

"I really do too shishou."


A red haired man laughed manically. Both sitting on a high tree overlooking the village hidden in the leaf. Feeling the killing intent radiating from the high tower and then fizzing out.

The blonde next to him eyed him wearliy, his high pony tail swinging slightly as he looked over at him through his one visible eye.

"What's with that, yeah?"

"She's pissed my little petal." He laughed harder. "You should see her, she's a wicked little thing."

"Are we here for her, Yeah?" He opened his palm into his other hand, and some clay dropped Into it.

"We're here to rile her up." He smiled down at his closed fist. Opening it slightly, revealing a lock of pink hair.

"What's that, yeah?" The blonde looked over at his hands. Molding the clay into a perfect little bird.

"A token she gave me, the last we met." The sadistic smile he gave his hand before he clenched it and tucked the hair into his chest pocket gave the blonde a shiver.

'I'm glad I'm not the one she's fixated on, yeah.' Deidara shook his head.

"My petal, I can't wait to show you my new toy." Sasori stood, pulling the chakra strings to the puppet making it drop from the lower branch into the forest. "What say you? Deidara? Let's go find my sweet little treat."

With that they dropped into darkness, darting for the village.


"Madam hokage." The anbu operatives dropped to a knee. "We've found traces of enemy's in the graveyard. Two graves in particular were disturbed."

"Which graves?" Tsunade turned to the three men stationed at the foot of her desk.

Sakuras blood ran cold. Eyes widening, she whipped her head to the men standing in front of the hokage. They turned to look at sakura, masks in place.

"It's alright. Speak." Tsunade said teeth clenched.

The operatives turned back to the hokage.

"Yamanaka Ino, and…" they took a moment, a sigh could be heard from the back as sai stood to attention.

"Haruno, ma'am. Both body's missing in that grave." Sai said.

Sakuras legs went out from under her, Itachi caught her by the waist before she could completely fall. Holding her against his side.

"All three then?" Tsunade hissed out.

"All three ma'am." He repeated.

"He's… he's here, he wouldn't do this…he wouldn't do this without waiting to see my reaction." Sakura breathed…

"Get yourself together, weasel, get her out of here and too that safe house now." Tsunade roared. "Keep her hidden! Team hawk," She turned back to the rest of them as Itachi grabbed sakura holding her bridal style, and darted out the window. Hawk watched them go then strode forward.

"ma'am." He put a fist to his chest.

"Get your team, and assemble the rest, send out the alarm. We're in lockdown as of ten minutes ago. DISPERSE! Find that maniac!"

With that they vanished, two more teams of jonin rushing into the room, as the alarm sounded.

"God speed sakura." She whispered as she threw her haori off and flexed her fists. "Initial lock down sequence defender is officially in place. I want all genin and chunin to report to the academy. Every jonin is to protect the village. I want all Anb-" she was cut off as an explosion hit the tower. She held her hands against the desk.

"Fuck! Get all anbu to find that bastard now!"

They started sealing the tower immediately, Tsunade followed out the double doors.


The fist explosion brought sakura out of her daze. "Itachi! Put me down now!" She fumbled in his arms. He gripped tighter.

"Sakura. I have my orders." He dodged out of the way of a jonin darting past him.

"NOW ASSHOLE!" She gathered chakra and twisted out of his grip, he backflipped as sakura hit the rooftop. Defensive stance in place.

"Sakura! It's a direct order!" Itachi growled.

Sakura let it go, all of it. Her chakra flaring and her bangs covered her eyes as her fists glowed green. "Don't fuck with me Itachi. This time, I'm not going to hold back. We're going 100% right now and you don't want to get in my way."

Itachis eyes widened as his sharingan took in the amount of chakra peeking from her the killing intent enough to flatten a genin. Maybe even a chunin.

"Sakura stop!" Itachi gritted his teeth behind his mask. "Your making yourself a target!"

"Let them try!" She hissed and flash stepped off the rooftop.

"Fuck!" He howled taking off after her. She was fast as she flew across the village, making her way to the edge of the forest as another explosion took out half of the roof next to her, a quick peek up and she made contact. Red flare of hair. A large grey looking bird flew up away from them. Blonde hair peeked out from the top.

"Follow me, that's right. Let's get away from this overcrowded area." She whispered to herself. Itachi on her heel.

"Hello petal!" A chilling tone called from above, sakura almost missed a step. She rolled to a stop on the village border. Head bowed. The bird swept into focus about 30 yards in front of her as Itachi stopped next to her on the fences.

"Sasori, you've brought a friend to our rendezvous? How unlike you." She said in a low cold voice.

"It seems you have too, my sweet love." He blew her a kiss. She crackled from the amount of energy burning off of her.

"Figured your friend would be lonely once I fucking eradicated you off this earth." She spit out, flexing her hands.

"Oh? Are you still mad about that last little incident? And here I was with a present for you! Thought I'd make it up to you!" He laughed manically. Whipping his hand up when it came to stop right in front of them on a branch.

Sakuras eyes met that of icy blue. Long blonde hair, tied up in a tight pony tail on top of her head. Half black shirt. Her bangs long and perfectly shielding half her face. Tears burned in her eyes. "Ino…" had Itachi not been so close to her, he wouldn't have heard it.

"I've missed you petal. My beds been awfully cold without you." Sasori cooed. "I thought, well she was so mad that I accidentally killed this one, why not make you a puppet!"

"Sakura!" Itachi reached for her. "He's baiting you!"

"Your… your a fucking monster!" She seethed, flickering into the air as sasori backed off the bird both disappearing into the forest before Itachi could reach her.

"Just leaves you and I, yeah?" Deidara opened both palms at Itachi two mouths dripping spit, who glared behind his mask, sharingan blazing to three tomoas.

"Not for long." He said before they jumped at each other.


A/n: quick update this time, let me know what y'all think

-ViewlessTea0