A/N: Managed to get this one out fairly quickly and its a little longer than usual too! A huge thanks to those of you who reviewed! I really appreciate hearing your thoughts and they are an excellent motivator!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto in any way shape or form.

Chapter Five: Trust Issues

It didn't take long for the ANBU members to investigate when their scout never returned. Itachi glanced over at Sakura hidden amongst some bushes as he'd suggested. Her face was pale but set with determination. She was beginning to listen to him, he realised with satisfaction. Silently he straightened up behind his tree as their quarry neared. His only concern was that he had misjudged the kunoichi's skills. He hoped she'd progressed from that small weak girl he remembered.

That particular fear proved groundless when Sakura effortlessly took out the first shinobi to shoot through the trees with a well-aimed blow to the jugular. Only now he had another problem to contend with. He had warned her to use as little chakra as possible whilst taking them out: it was the only way they could maintain their cover.

"Sakura, you idiot," he muttered, rising fluidly from his position amongst the trees. Now every single member of the squad knew where to find her.

A twig snapped ominously behind him. He spun around to face two white-masked men converging on him. One broad sweep of his kunai and they both collapsed like marionettes, blood gushing freely from their throats. It was too easy.

In those few crucial seconds he'd taken his eye off Sakura, she had engaged in combat with two faceless men. They were dancing out of her reach, forcing her to waste her energy on pointless advances while they conserved their strength.

A brief flash of chakra alerted him to danger a split second before it happened. He sprung out of the way as a sharp pointed block of earth erupted from the ground, the exact point he had been standing just a second before. He scanned the ground, branches and bushes for the attacker before locating him. He was some metres away crouched down between the bowels of an enormous tree, one hand pressed firmly to the ground.

Itachi's perfect, smooth face was mask-like, hiding all traces of irritation. Normally this man would have been dead before he'd had chance to press his fingers to the dirt. Travelling with Sakura did have its limitations. He couldn't risk using the sharingan. There was no question of his victory against this opponent but it would waste valuable time. It would all be for nothing if Sakura died. How ironic that his precautions were threatening to ruin his chances of finding the rebel band of Konoha shinobi.

Well, he'd just have to make it quick then.

Pale fingers formed the familiar hand seals without thought and within the blink of an eye three perfect imitations of Itachi materialized behind dense patches of vegetation. Their chakra levels were controlled so flawlessly that it was impossible to distinguish between them and the real Itachi. With unparalleled speed two of the clones sped ahead while the third fell back to assist Sakura. Itachi was taking no chances.

A quarter of a mile away, the pink-haired medic wiped several beads of sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. A sudden wave of fatigue swept through her limbs as she held her stance warily, watching for any indication of movement. The two shinobi were in better shape than she was; their breathing only slightly laboured. One false move and she was history. The men advanced, forcing her towards a dense patch of trees: a confined area with little room to manoeuvre. Sakura gritted her teeth angrily. It was almost impossible for her to land a hit as it made her vulnerable to attack. They were pressing her so hard she had no time to form hand seals. She could only react to their furious onslaught by defending herself the best she could. Her arm rose up instinctively. One punch blocked. She spun around to her left and attempted a sharp jab at one man's chest. Quick as lightning she fell back as she avoided his counter attack. She pivoted on the spot, one leg swinging round in an elegant arc but they avoided it easily.

Her sharp eyes saw a slight opening and she took it. There was no time to assess the consequences. This could be the only chance she got. The medic launched herself at the surprised shinobi. His shoulder crunched and splintered from the tremendous pressure of her fist. His agonised scream was cut off abruptly as Sakura administered a well-aimed blow to his torso. A faint rushing sound caused her to spin around in alarm, realising too late that she had left herself wide open to attack.

She blinked in confusion. The second shinobi lay on the ground, clearly dead while Itsuo stood over him, a grim expression foremost on his features. Sakura stood up shakily, watching her saviour with apprehensive wide eyes. She was instantly aware of the smudges of dirt mixed in with smears of mud over her bare arms, legs and face compared to Itsuo who didn't have so much of a scratch. A look of uncertainty crossed her face. Who was this man?

Before she had time to even begin to phrase her conflicting thoughts he vanished, in a puff of smoke. The medic blinked. A clone? A fucking clone! Fury shot through her as it all clicked into place. She'd called him a mercenary and he'd never bothered to contradict her because it all made sense now. He was a shinobi.

Small plants and dry bracken gave way under her furious footfalls as she strode angrily towards the place where she'd seen him last. "Itsuo!" she raged, kicking aside small stones as she searched the forest for the strange, elusive man. "Where are you?"

"I'm here," a quiet voice answered close by. Sakura looked around, unnerved. Itsuo was leaning casually against a tree, his face partially shaded by the luminous green canopy that sheltered the forest. She inched closer, alert for danger. "Are you alright?" he asked her, genuinely concerned.

"No I'm not," she glared at him. "You lied to me".

Her jade eyes watched him carefully, judging his reaction. A brief flash of something flickered in his eyes. Sakura wasn't sure if she imagined it; his body gave nothing away. He stared at her uncomprehendingly.

"What do you mean?" he asked slowly.

The medic crossed her arms in annoyance. She hated it when people feigned innocence.

"You know what I mean," she replied irately.

"Perhaps you'd like to explain it to me".

His complete bewilderment was really getting under her skin.

"You are a shinobi," she hissed, spelling out each word slowly and carefully so there could be no mistaking her meaning.

Itsuo relaxed slightly. Sakura's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"I did not lie to you, Sakura," he answered calmly. She almost interrupted in protest but Itsuo began to talk again. "You never asked me if I was a shinobi. You made your own assumptions".

"You lied by omission," she countered, determined to win this personal battle. "You can't argue against that".

His sigh was barely audible. Clearly the conversation was going not the way he wanted.

"This is pointless. When the squad does not report back others will come looking. We need to put as much distance as we can between here before they arrive".

"We?" Sakura echoed incredulously. "I thought I made myself clear. There is no "we". We are not travelling together Itsuo".

"You don't have a choice," Itsuo replied. "You need me".

"No," she shook her head angrily, cascades of pink hairs falling over her dirt-streaked face. "I don't".

"What would happen if you encountered another squad Sakura?" He said softly. "Think about this logically. You could not take them on alone and I doubt you have the skill to evade experienced trackers."

Her sharp rebuke died on her lips. "I'll be fine," she said, surprised at how unsure she sounded. She sat down on a moss-covered log, covering her face in her hands as she reviewed her options. Though it pained her to admit it, Itsuo was making sense. She sighed deeply. She had to be honest with herself. The truth was that she didn't think she had it in her to place her faith in this man. Her trust was slim and fragile, damaged and broken. It was a hard decision to make. Afraid to trust him yet incapable of surviving alone. She rose from the log slowly, aware for the first time of the damp that was seeping through her clothes.

There was only one logical conclusion.

At Itsuo's instruction they spent most of the day under the cool shade of the trees, trying to cover as much ground as possible while simultaneously confusing their trail. Sakura found it very tedious. It involved a lot of back-tracking and creating false trails. Her skills in this area were basic so Itsuo had delegated to her the lesser task of creating the false trails with some clones while he laboured over the much harder task of concealing their own. Once Itsuo even insisted that they should wade upstream through a narrow and swift channel of water. He was adamant that they should not use chakra to stay above it. The less they used, the better he said. Sakura had agreed, very reluctantly. The water scarcely came up to her ankles yet the medic loathed this part of the journey. Her three-day flight had worn a hole in one of her boots and she winced as the icy water seeped in. It was not a pleasant sensation.

It was surprising and a little embarrassing to discover that Itsuo's keen eye and obvious expertise were easily a class above her own. He was far more skilled than he let on. This worried Sakura as she wondered what other secrets he'd been hiding and she had difficulty believing that someone would go to so much trouble to save her own skin without wanting something in return.

As the day wore on, her energy levels flagged and her thoughts dwelled on more important things such as where she was going to sleep when night fell. The sky had turned a dusky pink, shooting rays of golden light through the gaps in the trees. The effect was magical. Sakura was too tired to care. They stumbled upon an abandoned cave, nestled at the base of a small hillside. It was shallow and dry inside. Perfect for two weary, footsore ninjas to rest in. Sakura sank gratefully against a sandy wall, accidentally showering herself with hundreds of tiny grains of sand in her exhaustion.

"Wait here," Itsuo commanded. "I'll scout out the area".

Sakura raised her head tiredly, struggling to focus on the dark-haired man's face. She barely noticed the absence of his presence and jumped what felt like several minutes later when he returned, arms laden with various twigs and branches.

"The area is secure," Itsuo said with a certainty which still managed to bring a frown to her face despite her sleep-deprived state. How could he be sure so sure?

She hugged her knees, eying the wood apprehensively. "Isn't fire a bit risky?" she questioned. "What if someone saw?"

"It is a risk," Itsuo replied. "But I think there is little cause for concern. Our trail will be almost impossible to track now".

The medic nodded wearily and hugged herself tighter as if to keep the pangs of hunger at bay. She studied Itsuo's face in the growing darkness, eyes following the sweep of his ebony hair, the shape of his jaw line and the warm, dark depths of his eyes as he built the frame for their small campfire. It struck her again how familiar he looked. Sakura sighed. She was being absurd. There was a most likely a completely innocent explanation for it; she was just looking for anything that reminded her of home. Plenty of people had long dark hair in Konoha. She suddenly felt miserable.

She stood up hastily, her head nearly brushing the roof of the cave. Itsuo watched her questioningly.

"Would you like anything to eat?" Sakura said. Despite her tiredness; she was eager to keep her hands busy. She needed a distraction.

Itsuo didn't reply. He continued to place the twigs into an intricate spiral pattern, quite unlike any campfire technique Sakura had seen. A frown creased her brow. It irked her that she was being ignored. She strode towards the mouth of the cave without a backward glance.

The chill night air clung to her skin like clothes as she wandered through the undergrowth, crouching and searching for anything that might be edible. The lack of light shrouded everything in grey, hindering her search. Even the tiny pin-pricks of light that wheeled overheard provided little illumination. However the search did not turn out to be completely fruitless. She discovered some mushrooms nestled between the roots of a tree and chanced upon some purple berries which had been a favourite at home. A hard lump formed in her throat as she picked off the ripest ones. Eager to be away from her treacherous thoughts she hastened back to the small cave.

The small fire was crackling merrily when she returned. Flames danced on the walls, filling the cavern with a restful orange glow. Itsuo lay against one wall; his face was drawn and pale. He didn't look up until Sakura sat next to him, a weak smile upon her face as she offered him a meagre amount of berries and mushrooms. Itsuo appraised her for a moment, taking in her wearied expression before taking some food.

"Thanks," he murmured, lapsing back into silence.

The medic watched him for a few moments longer than was strictly necessary, trying to decipher his mood. At times he seemed strange and distant, much like the first night she'd met him. This dark, brooding Itsuo was even harder to stomach than the infuriating, arrogant one. It elicited within her an uncomfortable mixture of empathy and awkwardness.

"So," Sakura began, poking a dry, gnarled twig into the blaze. "Where are you from?"

She glanced up expectantly at his unchanged face, wondering what thoughts were swirling behind his perfectly composed features. Itsuo took a while to reply. His eyes gazed steadily at the ever-changing flames; the reflection flickered and danced in their depths.

"Why the sudden interest?" he replied without any real inflection. Sakura sensed vaguely that she was treading on thin ice by broaching the topic of Itsuo's past but she needed answers. Itsuo was an unfamiliar shinobi. She had no knowledge of his past or his motives and that made him dangerous.

"I'm just curious," Sakura answered a little defensively. She waited expectantly for an answer but Itsuo remained stock still; only the rise and fall of his chest confirmed that he was still breathing. "If I'm being completely honest, Itsuo," she continued hesitantly. "I need to know more about you before deciding if I can trust you".

He looked up, as if seeing her for the first time. After a long hard minute, he finally spoke.

"I can see your point," he conceded reluctantly. The medic stared at him silently, analysing his every move. "But it's not that easy. There are some things that I cannot discuss with you. The reasons are complicated. As for whether you trust me or not," he shrugged. "That is entirely up to you".

Sakura grimaced. He made it sound so easy. Asking her to go on faith alone was impossible; he must know that. She ground her teeth together in frustration. She was determined to wring some answers out of the evasive, dark-haired man.

She tried a different tack. "You're a shinobi, aren't you?"

"Yes," he admitted cautiously. "Though I'm no longer affiliated with a village."

The medic turned her head slightly to hide her brief satisfaction. Once she was sure her features had assumed a fairly normal expression, she twisted back to face him. "And what village was that?" she pressed eagerly, her face flushed with anticipation.

"I've told you all you need to know".

"You've told me nothing," she said bitterly. "If we are to be partners we can have no secrets".

"We're not discussing this," Itsuo said in a tone that left no room for argument.

Sakura wearily covered her eyes with one hand; an indication of her mental exhaustion. The conversation was going nowhere fast and she was in no mood for games.

"All I'm asking of you is a little honesty, Itsuo," she said irately. "I deserve that at least".

Itsuo exhaled and pinched the bridge of his nose exasperatedly. "It's not that simple, Sakura". His dark eyes penetrated her gaze. "I do not expect you to divulge the reasons for you leaving your village. All I ask is that you respect my wishes too".

Heat flushed to Sakura's cheeks as she experienced a startling combination of anger and even shame. She hadn't thought of it in those terms and only now that he'd opened her up to this new viewpoint did she feel that she was being slightly unreasonable. But despite these feelings, she knew that her reasons for obtaining information about his past were equally important.

Itsuo broke the uncomfortable silence with a sad smile. "I know this must be hard for you but hearing my story will not make things easier".

Sakura opened her mouth in protest, determined not to give up but Itsuo had already swept past her into the night. Only then did she realise that her hands were balled into fists. She flexed her stiff fingers slowly, noticing the deep imprints her nails had left on her skin. She worried her lip unconsciously as her mind processed the scene of a few minutes before. Though she'd never admit it, a part of her almost pitied the man. At times he seemed almost sad or regretful and his frequent silences appeared to correlate with these two emotions. She might be wrong but, she had a feeling that he was suffering as much as she was.

As soon as she came to that conclusion, her decision was made. She would drop the subject, for now. Fighting with him was pointless. Perhaps when he was in a different mood, he would be more forthcoming and she would never ask him directly again. Clearly he trusted her as little as she did him. She could change that.

And she would start tonight.

She found him sitting on the crest of the hill, observing the countryside silently. At her approach, he barely turned his head, his features mask-like. Sakura, expecting some form of hostility slid silently next to him and without looking at him said timidly, "I thought you might be cold". She handed him a brown rough-spun blanket. He took it wordlessly, not glancing her way once. Sakura's mouth twitched upwards into a small smile as she sensed his surprise and confusion.

"I never thanked you for earlier," she twisted a piece of grass awkwardly as she spoke.

"It was nothing," was Itsuo's flat reply.

"Not to me," Sakura disagreed. She didn't dare meet his eyes for fear that he would detect the lie within them. "You saved my life". She tried to smile but stopped quickly when it came out as a grimace. She hoped that her voice sounded insincere to her ears alone. There was no reply. Sakura could feel her chance slipping away; whatever demons Itsuo had to contend with clearly took precedence over her company. It crossed her mind that he could be simply ignoring her. The night breeze was as chilly as Itsuo's prolonged silence and Sakura was starting to get a little irritated. For her plan to work though, she mustn't lose her temper.

She rose silently and tentatively wrapped her arms around his motionless form for a brief hug. She felt him stiffen at her touch, perversely satisfied at the effect she was having on him. She couldn't have known that her deceitful hug was the first he'd received in almost nine years.

"Goodnight, Itsuo," she said, her voice barely a whisper over the cold, biting wind. She picked her way back down the misshapen hill, never once daring to look back. But if she had, she would have seen a tortured expression claim his attractive face upon remembering the last display of affection that he had recieved. His clenched fists unfurled, releasing his hold on the loose dirt and stones that had been reduced to dust. Not in Sakura's wildest dreams could she hope to understand the pain of what he had lost.

Soft footsteps swished across the smooth, mahogany floor breaking the stillness of the morning. The sound was familiar and nostalgic to Neji's mind. They put him in mind of earlier, more carefree days. The footsteps ceased a mere two paces from him and he forced himself to look up at the impassive face of Hiashi Hyuuga; his uncle and the current head of the Hyuuga clan. Notorious for his strict morals and the elevated standards that he expected of his own kin, Neji wondered if he was going to be congratulated or reprimanded. Hiashi rarely praised anyone and although his praise was seen as the highest regard in the family, Neji wished that he would not have to endure anymore thanks from his gratified family.

It was a struggle to get from one end of the compound to the other without encountering at least one relative who had yet to praise him on his bold and innovative mind without which the Hyuuga clan could never have gained such high standing. Even worse were those who treat him with fervent respect and even awe. Neji was sick of the reverential bows and smiles as though he was their saviour instead of the man that betrayed half of Konoha. He sighed. He did not regret his actions, at least from a logical standpoint, but he wished that his sensei and teammates had not died.

The wooden chair squeaked noisily across the cool floor, jerking Neji from his gloomy thoughts. He abandoned tracing the pattern in the wood with his eyes and forced them instead to meet his uncle's. It was astonishing how the years had turned Hiashi's expression permanently severe. A river of lines was etched across his forehead and the only indication of his mood was how deeply the lines were folded. Thankfully today it was relatively smooth so Neji could hazard a guess that he was about to receive some form of gratitude. If truth be told, he'd been dreading this for days. He suppressed a deep sigh.

"As the head of our noble house, I would like to formally express my appreciation for the sacrifice you have made for our clan," Hiashi began slowly.

"Sacrifice?" Neji asked uncertainly.

"We understand the dangers you faced in becoming a spy for Danzou. It was at great risk considering what could have happened if you had been discovered. What you did showed a great amount of ingenuity, bravery and above all else, complete dedication for the well-being of our clan," he continued. Neji thought he sensed a slight resentment to his tone, probably because his own daughter, instead of bringing honour to the family, had shamed them by siding with the rebels. It had become a taboo to mention Hinata's name inside the walls of this large compound, and certainly not in hearing of the great Hiashi Hyuuga. "And the Hyuuga clan always rewards its members, which is why we are offering you a place on the council".

Hiashi's pale eyes watched Neji expectantly, under the impression that he was bestowing upon him a great honour. A few weeks ago Neji would have been overcome with surprise and gratitude, for being on the council was one of the highest honours a member of the clan could receive. Not to mention that only those with exceptional wisdom or prowess were ever accorded this high honour and that those lucky enough to succeed were usually offered a position at twenty-five years old at the very earliest. Neji was no fool. He knew that the council only desired him for his valuable insight into the Hokage's council, of which he was also privy to. But to decline would be viewed as a slight against his clan and he knew by experience that it was easier to go along with them, than fight against them.

"You do me a great honour uncle," Neji replied in what he hoped were humbled tones. "I accept your offer. I will continue my duty in serving the needs of our clan, whatever it requires".

Hiashi nodded approvingly. "Which brings me to my second offer".

Neji resisted the urge to clutch the edges of his seat in alarm. A second offer? The position on the clan wasn't completely unexpected given his position but he had not the slightest inkling what this second offer could be. He watched his uncle intently, hoping to glean something from Hiashi's impassive face.

"Equally important to serving the clan is ensuring that we preserve outstanding natural talents that are a credit to our family. As a prime target for the rebel shinobi, there is little opportunity for you to shine in the field," he said. Like steel bands tightening and constricting around his chest, a strong sense of anxiety gripped Neji. He did not know what his uncle was driving at but he had a feeling he was not going to like it. "An unfortunate side effect of elevating our family, but no matter. I have other plans for you. I propose a marriage between you and Fumiko, daughter of one of Danzou's most trusted advisors". Neji sank a little lower in his chair. "A meeting can be arranged in order for you to meet. I hope she is to your taste". Hiashi smiled, not unkindly. "I know that marriage is probably the last thing on your mind right now, but if you are truly committed to serving the clan then I hope you will consent".

"Thank you for the offer," Neji struggled to keep his tone even, his mind reeling with shock. "I will need some time to think about the offer before I can reply".

"Of course," Hiashi answered smoothly.

Neji rose steadily from his seat and bowed to his uncle, concealing his eagerness to escape the stuffy atmosphere. He was almost at the door when Hiashi spoke.

"Your father would be proud of you".

Neji froze, hand on the door frame. That his father would be proud of him, he was certain. Hizashi had given his life to protect his twin brother and the clan. But would his father be sympathetic if he understood the turmoil that was rushing though him: the dominant need to protect his family warring with the abhorrent idea of signing his life away to a woman he had never met and the feeling of ill-usage. That no matter what he did it was never enough.

He thanked Hiashi and back out of the room, unnerved by this new turn of events. The Hyuuga clan were attempting to strengthen their hold on him, make certain that he was "their" man so to speak. He walked past a couple of relatives in an apparent daze, struggling to fight back the tremors that were threatening to overwhelm his body. He marched urgently towards the twin gates that marked the boundary of the compound, ignoring the curious stares and funny looks. Blood thrummed rhythmically in his ears, drowning out the inconsequential chatter of shinobi milling around on the veranda.

He barely noticed where he was going until his feet came to a halt outside the innocuous-looking concrete building which housed all of Konoha's prisoners subject to interrogation. Shit. This was the last place he wanted to be. He ground his teeth in frustration. The girl had flown completely from his mind until this moment, wrapped up as he was in his own affairs. A sickening wave of guilt washed over him; his worries seemed rather trivial in comparison to hers.

Realising that he would look rather foolish if discovered dithering around the outside of the interrogation centre, Neji took a deep breath and forced himself to push open the oppressive, prison-like doors with a firm pale hand. He couldn't explain even to himself why he was so determined to see her. All he knew was that he couldn't stand seeing the completely justified accusation in her blue eyes. And he hated to admit it but he admired the sparkling determination that continued to burn within them regardless of the torments she had been subjected to.

An unbearable stench assaulted his nostrils upon entering the small, darkened cell but he restrained from holding his nose. In a roundabout way, it was his fault that she was in here and he wouldn't discredit her further by showing his distaste. A clatter of tiny claws alerted him to the fact that she wasn't the only inhabitant of this cell.

"Why?"

The hoarse whisper made him flinch and he forced himself to look at her. Her usually luxurious locks were a tangled nightmare. The colour was almost impossible to tell in the dim light, further hindered by the mass of dirt and congealed blood that stained it. Her bones jutted out from sparrow-like shoulders and her legs looked stick thin. Last of all, he looked into her face. An assortment of bruises decorated her face and her lip was swollen and bleeding.

"Why?" She hissed, more strongly this time. Her face was screwed up in anger and her fists were clenched so tightly, Neji thought they might bleed.

"Ino, I-"

"You're what, sorry?" She jeered. "Everything that has happened is because of you! People's families, friends and teammates... their blood is on your hands, Neji".

"Shut the fuck up," Neji growled through closed teeth. "You know nothing".

"Why are you here?" Ino asked in wearied tones. A violent, wet cough caused her to stop her tirade for an instant. "Is this some sick pleasure of yours? Or are you just coming to admire your handiwork?"

"Neither," Neji answered.

"Did you come to apologise then?" Ino said derisively, her laughter transforming into a quick succession of more aggressive coughs.

"I am sorry that you chose the path of a traitor, nothing more".

"Who are you to talk of honour and loyalty, Neji? You are the very epitome of a traitor," she spat disgustedly. She picked the dirt from her ruined nails irritably. "Get out. I'm sick of your lies".

Neji stared wordlessly at her before turning on his heel. The heavy door clanged ominously and Ino was plunged in darkness once more.

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