AN: Hey y'all, Cinnabunnbunn here.

So here's another chapter, and let me tell you, I've kind been on a crunch lately. I have been trying so hard to finish "I burn for You" chapter 2, and it's long. So I've been jumping between YRH chapter 6, ScarDan chapter 6, RoG chapter 9 and IBfY chapter 2. It's been hell, tbh. My ADHD brain is like, do this story first, this dialogue sounds cool, you should write this scenario, hey if you don't write it right now you might forget later. I'm tired honestly.

But nevermind that, because now we have a new chapter. Wohoo!

Anyway onto the chap-


Sun shone heatedly above her head and sweat dripped down the side of Sakura's face as she heaved a loud breath, slamming down the crate down on the stack of other crates. The small glass jars clinked from the force and Sakura wiped her forehead, fanning her herself with her hand. She looked around the town square, at the crowd of people handing out the jars of medicine and felt a content smile cross her face despite the ache in her muscles.

Suddenly she saw a glass thrust under her nose and she followed the pale hand holding the cup and saw the familiar blond hair and sky blue eyes.

"Ino." Sakura greeted with a smirk, taking the cup from her hand. Ino's own smirk was hidden behind the delicately placed fan held to her face, her slender form wrapped in the luxurious silks reserved for the nobles of the kingdom.

"You look even worse than yesterday."

Ino was the daughter of Kuroshima military's chief interrogator, heiress of the Yamanaka clan and the first person she treated in the kingdom after Tobi. She was so chirpy and polite at first that Sakura was inclined to accept her companionship when going from patient to patient, imagining the girl to be another version of the ever-pleasant Ayame.

Oh, what a surprise it was when Ino broke out of her shell after a week of accompanying Sakura and she was met with a witty, confident and cocky young woman that hid behind the delicate façade of a young dutiful heiress. It only made her all the more thrilled to befriend the blonde. And her presence certainly made it easier to deal with the nobles.

Sakura sighed, plopping down on the wooden bench near a store and taking a sip of the beverage Ino brought her. It was sweet and sour, with a hint of peach. "Trust me you don't want to know. The royals are a real piece of work." She raised an eyebrow at Ino in question.

She seemed to understand what Sakura was asking about. "Peach lemonade. Mother made it for you and told me to deliver it." She sat down next to the pinkette, folding up her fan and resting it beside her. "Ugh, I hate coming here. It's always so hot and sweaty." She made a face at the sky, shielding her face from the sun.

"You didn't need to come here you know."

"Yes I know, but then who will annoy you while you try to work? Someone has to do it."

Sakura sighed in exasperation but a smile still tugged at her lips. This was one of the reasons she loved hanging out with the blonde heiress, she never had to force herself to be polite or someone she was not. It felt like gossiping with an old friend, as if she had known her forever.

"I feel like dying actually." Sakura took another sip, looking at the horde of townsfolk chattering over one another as they passed on the crates stacked together on the wagon. "The princes back at the compound are just… I don't even know what to say."

"They are a real pain. I get it alright." Ino leaned back on the bench too, mirroring the pinkette's pose. "I remember when I used to have a crush on Sasuke." She winced slightly at the thought, "Oh the horror."

Sakura choked on the lemonade, coughing a little in shock. "Sasuke? You used to like Sasuke? You cannot just stay things like that as if they are some casual conversation." Even the thought was incredulous to her. "I cannot imagine that."

Ino looked offended at her disbelieving tone, huffing in slight indignation and crossing her arms over her chest. "You like strange people when you're young and stupid, alright? That was before I knew what a prick he was." She said before adding in a much quieter tone, "or maybe was just too blind to see."

Sakura hummed in pity before sipping on her drink again, downing the last few dregs before putting the glass down with a soft thud. She stood up again, stretching her arms over her head and arching her spine, sighing in satisfaction when the cracking sound emitted from her joints.

"Well, there's a break. Time to get back to work."

"I don't even know why you do so much labor work after all this." Ino stood up with her, dusting the skirt of her robe free from the invisible specks. "You are a doctor, you should be looking at patients. Why are you doing so much physical labor?"

Sakura thought for a moment before shrugging, "Its nothing particular. I just sometimes like doing stuff that doesn't require too much thinking and just keeps my hands busy. Stitching, writing entries, grinding tablets; after a long day of doing formulas and studying about diseases and death, it's just a nice respite."

Ino huffed again, swishing open her fan and fanning her face. "If that's the case then you should come to my home sometimes." At Sakura's questioning glance, she gave her a knowing smirk, "My mother makes amazing desserts. You would love them."

Sakura looked down at her hands for a moment before smiling up at the blonde, "Done."

She walked back to the square center with the blonde in toe, smiling at the old lady that stepped forward to greet her. "Mrs. Tanaka, how is your back?"

The plump lady smiled at her, eyes creasing with the lines of age gracing her face and her voice was sweet and old when she spoke. "I've never felt such a relief in decades with these old bones." She held Sakura's hands in her own like a grandmother would, patting the back of Sakura's hand in gratitude, "You're a godsend, an angel, my dear."

"Please don't embarrass me like that Mrs. Tanaka. I'm just doing what I can."

Mrs. Tanaka only continued to smile at her and Sakura had to bend at an incline to talk with the shorter woman. "You could've just left us to our devices after you cured the disease, but you stayed around to help us even when you're not of this land. Only an angel would be so kind."

Sakura felt her heart softening around the seams and ducked her head when she felt warmth creeping up her neck at the praises. She bent down in a bow out of respect before straightening up again as another middle-aged man came forward to talk to her.

As the last person took his farewell and Saura's throat started feeling dry from speaking so much, she heard Ino chuckling behind her. Her blue eyes were creased in amusement as she continued to fan her face. "Your face is redder than a tomato from talking so much."

"I know, but how can I refuse them when they want to talk to me."

"You're here every day, without fail without rest." She snapped her fan close again, face turning a little serious, "You hardly eat a full meal throughout the day and return home so late at night that it might as well be the next dawn. I'm afraid one of these days you'll be found fainted like one of the court women during the heat waves."

Sakura knew she was being serious when regarding the taxation on her health, but she still couldn't resist smirking teasingly. "Oh Ino, it makes me ecstatic that you're so concerned for me. How blessed I am."

Sakura barely contained her laugh at the redness on Ino's cheeks, turning her face away with a huff of embarrassment. "Fine, be a brat. I don't care."

Sakura chuckled under her breath, shaking her head in amusement before her smile softened, "But seriously, it's good to know that you care enough." She saw Ino glancing at her from the corner of her eyes, "Today is the last day for distributing the spring medicines. I'll take some rest from tomorrow." She tilted her head toward the shorter blonde, a teasing smile playing on her lips, "Will you accompany me for some tea?"

"I already told you to come to my home. You know where it is."

"It's useless to tell Sakura to take a rest." A new voice interrupted the pair making them turn their head to the side. "Trust me, I've tried."

"Izuna, good morning." Sakura greeted the prince stepping down from the carriage. Ino straightened up at the sight of the prince, bowing waist down with grace that was so unlikely the usual Ino. "My prince, good morning."

Izuna inclined his head to the blonde in greeting, "Lady Yamanaka, what a pleasure to meet you." He greeted back before smiling back at the pinkette. "I would wish you morning too, but it's way past that. You didn't show up for breakfast."

"You didn't eat breakfast either!" Ino nearly screeched at her before remembering herself and settling for glaring at Sakura, "This. This is what I was talking about when I said you don't take care of yourself."

"I did eat something. Ayame brought me onigiri."

"That's not enough!"

"Ladies." Izuna cleared his throat, politely interjecting the back and forth between the two women, smiling when the blonde flushed in embarrassment at him witnessing the bickering. "I would love to chat more, but the queen has called for Sakura back at the compound."

"Oh." Sakura turned to Ino, giving her a shrug, "Guess I need to get going. I'll see you later." She followed Izuna back into the carriage, giving Ino a wave as the driver pulled the horses into motion.

"You seemed to have made quite some friends in the kingdom."

Sakura looked at the prince sitting beside her, giving an airy chuckle of amusement. "You could say that. I seem to have easier time among the common folks than nobles." Izuna hummed in understanding, smiling a little in the light breeze.

"That seems just like you."

"By the way," Sakura asked suddenly after a pause of silence, "do you know why the queen is asking for me?"

To her disappointment Izuna shook his head. "It must be something important," she mused under her breath, loud enough for her partner to hear "to have sent you out to get me."

Izuna didn't correct her by mentioning that it was in fact his offer to get her for Mikoto. "Could be important, could be not. It didn't seem urgent so you don't need to worry too much. We'll be back at the compound in ten minutes anyway."

They were back at the compound in less time when Sakura saw Mikoto walking around the gardens right after the stepping down from the carriage in front of the court room. Izuna ushered her toward the garden and Mikoto perked up when she saw the pair walking toward her.

"Doctor Sakura, there you are."

Sakura bowed as Mikoto stopped in front of them, "Your highness."

Mikoto waved away her formality, "How have you been doctor Sakura? I haven't seen you since last week."

"I have been busy with the people in kingdom." Sakura answered flatly, voice slightly apologetic. She had to bend at her waist slightly to not look like she was look like she was looking down at the queen. "Forgive me if it felt like I was avoiding you or the king."

"Oh dear, no." Mikoto shook her head softly, a warm smile on her face. "We know how busy you've been with the people, and we couldn't be more grateful. And to show our gratitude to you, we are holding a banquet!"

"A banquet?" Sakura and Izuna echoed back simultaneously. Mikoto grinned at them, nodding in response. "A banquet of Kuroshima. It will be held in ten days from now."

Sakura pressed her lips thin in thought. A banquet in her honor, with the aristocrats of Kuroshima, with her as the guest of honor. She should feel honored, as of course she does, but it also made a ball of nervousness rise her in her.

"Are you sure, your majesty? A banquet for me seems a little… excessive."

"Oh nonsense!" Mikoto shook her head, as if taking offence at such ridiculous notion. "A celebration in your honor is the least of all things we could do, let alone be excessive. And it has been so long since the last time I hosted a banquet anyway. I shall send my finest seamstress to you to get a special celebratory robe made for you."

Sakura panicked a little inside at the thought of an imperial seamstress making her robe, vehemently shaking her head before she could catch herself. "No your highness, it won't be needed. I have my festive robes from Hiraisumi, that should suffice."

"But you are the guest of honor! You should have the highest quality robe out of everyone, and it will be best if I make sure of that."

"No no, your majesty. I'm already honored that you have taken the burden of holding a celebration in my name, I will not be able to rest easy if you do any more than that." Sakura replied the queen in her most convincing voice possible, "And I have enough celebratory robes from my kingdom, I would like to wear those."

Mikoto wilted a little at Sakura's vehement denial to her offer. "Are you sure dear?" Maybe it was a bit dishonest to have ulterior motives about the whole ordeal, but she couldn't stop herself from wanting to do everything to make sure she catches the eyes the of prince. It won't be too difficult, considering her unique appearance and strong personality, but she still liked decorating people just as much as she liked making her garden and her castle pretty.

Sakura nodded, "I'm sure my queen. I don't want to impose any more than I already have, I will be fine."

Mikoto slowly nodded, lips pursed and eyebrows pulled in a slight frown. She wasn't particularly happy with Sakura's decision it seemed but before anything else could be said, a maid ran out at the edge of the garden to inform Mikoto that she was needed inside. The viscountess has arrived for their tea.

Mikoto excused herself with a last reminder about the banquet, leaving only the pair of Sakura and Izuna in the garden.

It was silent in the garden until Mikoto was out of sight and hidden behind the walls of the building. Izuna looked over to Sakura to see her chewing on her lips slightly, eyes staring at a nearby rose bush. "Are you nervous?"

Sakura jerked out of her reverie, shaking her head and releasing a quiet breath. "Slightly. It's just that I've never interacted with any noble of Kuroshima outside strictly medical settings, and I'm just… a little nervous."

"You know Lady Yamanaka."

"She's the least 'noble' noblewoman you can meet, she doesn't really count." Sakura chuckled slightly under her breath. She should be fine, she has had meetings and dinners with generals and leaders of other empires. She's been arm in arm with the five generals of Konohagakure for God's sake. But it's still always a little daunting.

But the response from Izuna drew her attention. "I would like to escort you to the banquet if it could help."

Sakura blinked in surprise at the prince when she saw the completely serious expression on his face. "You want to escort me?" Izuna smiled in return, nodding in agreement.

"Yes. I assumed that going to a banquet alone will be daunting for anyone, especially in a foreign land. Maybe going there with a friend would make things easier for you." His smile turned a little sheepish, "And I would like a partner for the celebration as well, so it might make it easier for me as well. Unless you don't want so…"

"No!" Sakura exclaimed before reeling herself back, clearing her throat and answering in a more composed manner. "I mean, no, it's not like that. And yes, I would like to accompany you." Her lips curved up in a smile, a little shy on the edges and slight pink tinting her cheeks. "Thank you."


Itachi tried to keep his face as neutral as possible as he listened to the patrol officer continued to jabber away like it was nobody's business about something new that he had no interest in.

He discreetly looked around the compound yard, trying to find any excuse to get away from him.

"But I would hope that Sumiko could do-"

Itachi resisted the urge to sigh and rub a palm down his face at the utter uncomfortable boredom that was weighing him down, humming noncommittally to make it seem like he was listening to the officer and resist the urge to say 'I have no interest in what your niece does or wants to do.'

When he looked at the corridors of his house, he could only see servants and his relatives, hardly anyone he could use as an excuse to get away from the officer. He glanced toward the gardens, finding only greenery and a gardener, then he looked toward the path to the stable, wishing someone would come to get him away but it was only empty.

"I was hoping that you could make some time to have some tea at my home. Sumiko makes great tea and-"

"I'm sorry officer Hashimoto, but I am needed by my subordinates." Itachi blankly interrupted the officer, unable to take anymore of his mindless chatters. He respected the man, he really did, but sometimes it was hard to take his blatant attempts at setting him up with his niece. "I should really get going."

Hashimoto blinked at his interruption before registering what he was saying. "Ah, prince Itachi, forgive me. I must have kept you back for so long, I have gotten ahead of myself. Please don't let me hold you back anymore."

Itachi bowed shallowly at him before wordlessly stalking out of the yard and into the corridor. He finally released a long breath, pinching the skin between his eyes as if it would relieve the headache that has been pounding behind his head for, he forgot how long.

His family's physician said it might be migraine, from stress and exhaustion, the herbalist said to take chamomile tea and burn sandalwood incense. But none of that has been helping him. And as the days went by, it only got more and more pronounced and harder to ignore.

He turned the corner of the hallway, hoping that the page already has a horse ready for him. The mountains beyond the walls of his kingdom were slightly blurred to his eyes when he looked on and he felt a slight grimace settle on his lips. He was hoping it would be better after a good rest, but it doesn't seem to have gotten well.

He walked toward the stable but then stopped when he spotted a figure taking the stead of her trusty horse from a page that hurried away after seeing him. The figure and hair was too unique to be anyone else but her.

"Doctor Sakura." Itachi called out softly as Sakura paused in her way to look at him. Her eyes lit in in recognition instantly and she fully turned around toward him.

"Prince Itachi. Pleasant to see you again."

He returned her greeting, stopping a few meters away from her. "On your way to productive morning I would assume." Sakura smiled politely, nodding in agreement. Her companion neighed beside her in agreement too. "Yes my prince. There's still a lot to do in the time I'm here." She tilted her head slightly to the side, "Where are you going prince Itachi?"

"Just around the kingdom. Would you like to accompany me." It felt a little strange and very awkward to invite her along with him, as if he was doing it more out of an apology than anything else. And maybe he was, maybe he was trying to mend up some of the damage his brother and cousin might have done.

Sakura looked surprised too as her eyes widened and eyebrows raised up. But then her lips curved slightly in an apologetic sort of smile, "Forgive me, my prince. However I'm not going to the kingdom. But I do hope you would have an eventful journey."

Itachi nodded and then the pair lapsed in an uncomfortable sort of silence, as if unsure whether to say something else or take their leave, when Itachi decided to address something he has been thinking of for the past few days.

"Doctor Sakura." He called her attention again, his voice a bit quieter than before. "I want to apologize for otouto's behavior."

"Ah." She replied shortly but didn't say anything else. Itachi took that as an incentive to continue. "He has been appropriately reprimanded by father. He will not pose as so disrespectful anymore."

Sakura narrowed her eyes ever so slightly, trying to weigh out what he meant by "appropriately reprimanded". It could be a month of stable duty, or it could be a slap on the wrist. But considering how spoiled and disrespectful he is by nature; it probably wouldn't be the first time Sasuke would get away with nothing more than a mildly disapproving frown and a wag of finger.

"Is that so." She mused out loud, honestly not in a mood to give another thought on whether or not the young prince will be a nuisance anymore but the curiosity got the best of her. "Do you know why your brother hates me so much, prince Itachi?"

Itachi pressed his lips slightly, not knowing how to reply "I actually don't know." He answered truthfully. "He is a little curt and brusque with everyone he doesn't know. So whatever he is mad at, probably has nothing to do with you personally."

'I won't call that a little curt.' Sakura deadpanned in her head while nodding blankly. "Insulting my person, doubting my caliber, questioning my origin, discriminating my gender. I wouldn't call that a general anger, he seems to hate me very personally." Sakura raised an eyebrow, "And even if he is in fact always just mad at the general public, it's not a good look to be a prince with such crass and disrespectful personality with no regard to who he is talking to." She tilted her head slightly, eyes clear with accusations. "Isn't that right, my prince?"

Itachi was at a complete loss on how to answer to any of her analysis. He didn't even know how to defend his brother or his actions.

Sakura would be right in one regard; Sasuke did seem to have a very specific problem with her. But it beats even him what the reason might be. "I-" He started before pausing again, not sure if he should even continue. "Please don't think too badly of him, doctor Sakura. He's been going through some things lately."

"We all do." Sakura was quick to rebut, "So that gives him a free pass to treat me like I'm sub human? Like he can treat like absolute dirt?" Itachi sealed his lips, a growing discomfort and a feeling akin to mortification festering in his chest. He has never had such trouble to answer anyone like he is having with the pink doctor. He couldn't remember the last time he's had to dig so deep to find excuses of all things.

Itachi never told excuses, he only gave absolute reasons and solid truths.

But before he could say anything else, the page boy came back holding the reins of his own horse. He tossed a silver coin to the boy, turning back to the doctor just in time to see her mounting on the saddle.

"It was nice talking to you, doctor Sakura." He said softly, "And once again, I would beg your forgiveness in place of my brother."

Sakura shook her head, "Please don't beg, my prince. It's not your place to beg for such menial things, you are supposed to be given such without even asking."

Itachi would have to wonder at her ability to make him feel loss of face with just her words. Her words were humble, fit for talking to someone who outranked her so greatly, but they still made him feel chagrin. As if his position was a shameful display of power.

He cleared his throat, mirroring her action of mounting his own horse. "Still, I would ask you to forgive his misdemeanor against you and try to move past in an act of kindness."

"As you command, my prince."

He nodded in goodbye, before turning his horse away from her but then paused, looking over his shoulder at her. "And you are a formidable fighter, doctor Sakura. Your display of skills was outstanding."

Sakura looked a little surprised but recovered quick enough, a slightly less tense smile spreading her lips. "You are too kind, my prince. Your praise means a lot to me."

"I would like to spar sometimes, with you." That was not an attempt at apologizing. He genuinely believed her to be one of the most interesting combat fighters he has come across. They have women in military and as assassins, but pure combative strength like hers was something he hasn't come across under his watch.

Sakura nodded, remnants of a smile still lingering on her mouth. "As you wish, my prince." And then she turned her horse around and trotted away from the compound. He too went on his way, out of the compound gate and down the winding cobblestone path toward the heart of the kingdom.

The market was quite positively bustling, and he doesn't remember seeing it so lively since the first strike of the disease. Men and women walked around from stall to stall, shop to shop in search of their desired findings. Hawkers shouted their offers over each other for the best bargain. The smell of smoked meat and fresh produce of root vegetables teased his senses.

He dismounted his horse, walking with the animal on toe instead of riding on it. He finally reached the town square, seeing the towering golden statue of the founder of Kuroshima, his grandfather seven generations back sitting on a leaping horse in the center of the four crosswalks.

He came to a halt in the middle of the square, nodding shallowly to the passersby bowing toward him. He looked around a bit when he finally spotted the guard appointed for overseeing the distribution of medicine. He waved him over.

"How have things been around here?" He asked in a voice that oozed authority. There were no room excuses or lies.

"Prince Itachi." The guard greeted him, pulling out the week's report. "It has been going well so far. We have more than enough medicines to cover all the people and so far, there's no new patient. There was some confusion in the making of the medicine, but doctor Haruno took care of that quick enough."

Itachi nodded along with the report, looking around the area at all the carts and stacks arranged around. He knew those were full of tonic jars and wrapped pills, he also knew that Sakura personally carried many of them on her own. She was strong, strangely strong for her size. He has seen her once carrying a stack of crates that would weigh at least as much as a couple sacks of potatoes.

"Doctor Haruno also personally visited some of the more critical patients that needed to be under her care, but that has also been showing good progress." The guard sighed, almost wistfully when giving the report on the doctor. It made Itachi raise an eyebrow at the action, looking at the man from the corner of his eye.

The boy was young, probably a couple years younger than Sasuke. "Anything else you would like to add on doctor Haruno?" he asked smoothly, crossing his arms over his chest with an air of feigned nonchalance.

The guard didn't seem to pay much attention to his tone as he started speaking again. "Doctor Haruno also personally quality controlled each and every batch of tonic and pills and has been regularly checking the stats on the patients from the town medics. She also helped-"

Itachi blankly watched him prattle away as if he was talking about some mystical messiah or angel. He didn't interrupt him or tell him to stop, simply waited to see how long it takes for him to stop. He went on for another minute or two before realizing what he has been doing and sealing his lips mid-sentence.

"Nothing else to add?" Itachi deadpanned, staring at the blushing fumbling boy. "I heard more about the doctor's tales of glory than the stats on the kingdom." The guard fumbled a bit more to give a proper answer but Itachi stopped him with a raise of his hand. "I want a detailed report on the week's campaign on my desk by five, sharp. One that does not include Doctor Sakura's praises of heroisms. Now go."

He watched the boy scramble away before releasing a long sigh. He looked up at the bright sky, feeling the same dull throb at the back of his head. The boy was young, a new recruit to the guards faction and on his first patrol. It was kind of expected for him to be awestruck when met with such a powerful figure, even if she didn't look the part of an imposing soldier.

"That boy is whipped."

Itachi looked at the new presence trotting up beside him, recognizing the pale wrinkly face and cornflower blue eyes. The long hair was white now, but he knew they were once platinum blonde. "Lord Yamanaka."

He bowed in respect to the old Yamanaka. Inoshi Yamanaka was the retired leader of his clan, once the lead interrogator of his grandfather's army and a fearless warrior. He still remembered hearing the stories of his bravery in the face of enemies powerful enough to bring Kuroshima to its knees.

Inoshi smiled, the old scar on the edge of his lips stretching with it. "Good morning, prince Itachi. How nice to see you here." The cane in his hand clicked against the ground as he came to a stop a few feet away from Itachi. "That guard is new, isn't he."

"Yes, he is." Itachi threw a glance over his shoulder to the boy trying to heft up the crate on his shoulder. "His name is Konohamaru, if I'm not mistaken."

Inoshi hummed in agreement, "He seems to have taken quite a shine to doctor Haruno. I should expect it from the lad." He chuckled under his breath, as if some prediction of his coming true. "Ah, to be young. It's quite adorable to see him blushing around the kind doctor."

"I hope he isn't distracting her from her work. That wouldn't be good if he gets in her way." Itachi meant what he said. If his puppy crush to the pinkette would only end up in him getting in her way or distracting himself, it's more trouble than worth.

Inoshi shook his head, "He's harmless. And doctor Haruno is an angel to deal with all of us without a single complaint, he wouldn't be too farfetched in his praises." He chuckled slightly, his voice rumbling deep in him like an old tree. "I just hope she's getting enough rest. That girl is a hard worker, I just hope she doesn't run herself ragged looking after us old bones."

Itachi tilted his head in thought, looking at a horde of duck going across the road. "Your granddaughter has befriended her, isn't that right. She seemed to be quite close to her." He wasn't supposed to know that, but he has seen the report from the first week. The Yamanaka heiress has been accompanying the pinkette from house to house pretty much everyday.

"Yes, she has. Ino even invited her over for tea. She seems to have taken quite a liking to the doctor."

Itachi nodded wordlessly, trying to keep the façade of nonchalance around him. Shisui is supposed to meet him at the square in a few minutes anyway, so there's no point trying to run around, but he couldn't help but feel a strange inkling of irritation as he listened to the Yamanaka elder speak about his granddaughter and the pink doctor. Itachi never liked listening to mindless prattles about who likes who and who got in between whose- marriage, so it was annoying regardless.

Inoshi paused mid sentence when he gave a glance at the stoic face of the prince, a laugh reverberating deep in his chest. "Ah, you don't seem particularly happy about the topic, so I will stop."

"Not at all." Itachi couldn't hide the slight sarcastic tinge to his tone, but Inoshi only laughed at his annoyance.

"I should probably head back home, it's time for my chess match with my friend." He turned to leave, but only with a last comment to him. "But heed my warning, my prince. You won't be the only one in the chase."

He still has no idea what Inoshi meant by that.


Leaves fell around her as Sakura moved to part another bush, going down the similar path she had visited before many times. She was just coming back from taking her testing sample from the fishing lake in the kingdom, and just decided to drop by Lake Karasu for another testing vial, mostly on a whim. That lake had been cleaned and decontaminated, but she still wanted to check again.

She huffed a breath out, feeling a little light in her head, as if she was only half awake. She has been feeling like that a lot, almost constantly. She promised Ino five days ago that she would take a rest, and the blonde probably wouldn't be very happy if she found out that Sakura did not keep her promise.

She wants to rest, but every time she would lay down on her bed, her brain would remind her of something she needed to do. A report to the king, a new testing batch, new samples, new patient cases, it all just seemed like a never-ending list of to-do's that always kept her up and the most she could do was take a nap in between her work.

The bushes rustled ever so slightly again as she finally stepped at the edge of the trees, just about to release a loud breath but something made her stop.

A rustle from a different bush, a little ways away from her. Sakura hid behind a tree, keeping herself flat against it as she peeked out around the edge. The area was empty for a few minutes as the bushes continued to rustle distantly, but then she saw a shadow.

It was a small boy, no older than eleven or twelve, sneaking around the lake. He looked frail, almost malnourished, face gaunt and hair limp. He was looking around cautiously, as if waiting for a bear to pop out any second.

Sakura was about to call out to the boy, see if he needed any help, but something made her pause. The boy pulled out a small vial from the scarf wrapped around his waist, looking around the area again, almost fearfully. His hands were shaking when he opened the vial and she could see it was filled with some liquid.

He moved toward the lake, wide nervous eyes darting around the area when Sakura decided to step out.

"Hey! Who are you?!"

The boy shrieked in surprise, caught off guard and dropping the vial in the process. It clanked on the ground, thankfully not broken due to the soft grass and the liquid spilled out, but staying limited only to the ground.

The boy whipped his head back to where she was walking, scrambling away as Sakura chased after him. "Hey stop! I won't hurt you! Hey!"

But the boy seemed more frightened than she first assumed and he was out of her sight before she could even get near the lake. Sakura huffed out breaths as she looked around the forest, trying to find any sight of the child.

"That's strange." She murmured to herself. The boy's behavior and mannerisms raised so many red flags for her. Who was he? What was he doing there? What was up with the vial? Speaking of the vial…

She looked down at the glass tube cushioned between the grasses, moving to pick it up but then though better of it. She brought out a handkerchief, using that instead to pick it up. Even though the majority of the liquid had flown out, there was still a little bit at the bottom, as well as remnants of it sticking to the inside of the vial.

She wrapped it in the handkerchief, before putting it in her satchel carefully. She was getting some bad feelings about it, and she would get to the bottom of this mess.


Darkness was something Sakura was well familiar with, something she saw all the time. So she saw it once again.

It felt like she was standing in a void, just an endless eternity of dark emptiness with nothing in sight. 'Where is it?' She heard a voice asking. It was distant and muddy, it could've been her but she wasn't sure.

She tried to lift her hand, wave it around or feel around for something, but it felt like her limbs weren't her own. She couldn't lift them, but they felt weightless.

'It's a dream.' Of course it's a dream. She knew that.

She looked around again, opening her mouth to say something. Neither her mouth opened, nor did she hear a voice.

But then she blinked, and in an instant, there was something around.

The area was still dark, but she could see things. Trees, some houses, and the endless sky. She didn't want to walk, she wanted to stand there until her dream ended, but again her body wasn't in her control. She moved forward, toward one of the houses.

She has never seen this house, she has never seen this place. The door opened on its own, and she entered the room. The house was small, like a hut, but inside the room was overarching and endless, it was a pathway to a building inside the room.

This, she knew this.

She knew the cobblestone path lined by tall grass, leading to the modest open chalet like house. The cottage she uses to do her researches back in Hiraisumi.

Her feet moved on her own again, walking forward on the cobblestone toward the door. But at the last minute, her feet changed their direction. Sakura frowned in confusion, willing her feet to follow the straight road but they refused her command.

'What's happening?' her body was out of her control, rounding around the house to walk toward the small storage barn in the back. She remembered she keeps her things back there, woods and metals. She hardly ever visits it, why is she going there?

The door to the barn opened again when she reached it and she didn't stop until she was inside. 'Why the hell am I here?' She looked around, seeing old dusty shelves and heaping piles of wood taking half of the room. That was not how the room usually looked, but it was close.

And then she heard a snarl.

'What was that?' she whipped her head around and then she felt a disturbance. The back of her neck creeped, hair standing on their end and her heart hammered behind her ribcage. There was something behind one of the piles. She slowly creeped around, seeing something move. And when she was able to see it, it froze her to her core.

A crouching figure, with curling antlers, bony limbs and a hideous appearance, gouging down on what looked like a carcass of a deer. It looked like a creature she has heard about from the old women of Ame. A wendigo.

She felt a creeping feeling on her skin, on the nape of her neck, sweat dripping down her forehead. A feeling she was very familiar with.

Fear.

Blood ran cold within her, her ears deafened by the thundering beats of her heart. She took a step back, her wide eyes fixed on the figure as her breaths quickened. She has never seen this thing, she knows this is a dream. Then why is she so terrified?

Something must've creaked, because the hideous face whipped toward her, eyes like embers and a mouth full of teeth and blood.

'Run…' She screamed but no words came out, 'Run!'

She dashed without a second thought, but it felt like her feet didn't touch the ground and she was getting nowhere. She wanted to push her feet faster, but they wouldn't budge. Like she was floating in the air, like how you run in your dreams.

The monster howled, it was getting closer to her. 'Why won't I run?!' She screamed again, trying to run faster. 'For the love of God, just run!'

When would this end?! When would this nightmare end?! Why is she seeing this of all things?

She made the mistake of looking over her shoulder when the monster drew up close. And she could only scream in horror as it lunged, and she could do nothing to escape.

"Ah!" Sakura scrambled up, arms flailing around as she attempted to sit up.

Harsh pants ripped from her throat and it took her a minute to realize that she was in her chamber. "It was a dream…" She murmured low, as if more to make herself believe it. Her hands shook badly as she ran them through her disheveled hair. She was sweaty, her thin robe sticking uncomfortably to her skin.

Another nightmare. This one made even less of a sense.

When she heard people got nightmares from past traumas, she imagined reliving the experiences through her dreams. But her dreams often never made any sense. But her feelings did.

Fear, anger, shame, guilt.

'It's a dream, it's a dream, it's a dream…' she repeated over and over again, forcing herself to slow down her breathing. She was okay, there was no monster chasing her, she wasn't going to die. She looked around her when her heart wasn't in her throat anymore, seeing the flickering oil lamp and the assortment of water samples and parchment pieces laying around.

She has fallen asleep studying for her research. She knew it was a bad idea to take that chamomile tea.

She was just fixing her hair back into a proper tie when she heard light padding out in the hallway. A second later, the door slid open, the worried face of Ayame greeting her. "Doctor Sakura?" she called to her in concern, moving to stand fully inside the room. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, everything's okay." She replied on reflex, the lie placed perfectly on her tongue. It felt the most natural answer even when she didn't feel so. "Did you need something?"

Ayame was hesitating, but then she shut the door behind her. "I heard screaming." She whispered unsurely, clearly concerned that she should probably keep quiet. "Are you okay?"

Sakura paused in her way of flipping a page, but only for a fraction of a moment. A smile spread on her lips, but even when she tried hard to make it look convincing she could feel the fakeness as clear as day. "I'm fine." She replied, her cheeks straining a little from the tight smile. "I thought I saw something outside. I was just a little startled that's all."

"Oh." Ayame blinked, "You were screaming for… a while."

"I'm fine." Sakura really hoped no one else heard her. She doesn't really see anyone in the guest block, probably because no one has really been visiting because of the illness, but she still hoped no passing resident bore witness to her terror. "It's nothing. I'm okay."

Ayame wordlessly nodded, before opening the door again. "I will bring you some jasmine tea. It will help you with your nerves."

Sakura nodded as Ayame went to brew some tea, the stiff smile abruptly falling from her lips, unable to keep it up anymore. She sighed loudly, her head falling down on top of the stack of parchment.

She was exhausted.


AN: Huh, well there's that. See y'all next chapter.

Bye bye.