Chapter 10: Love & Rhetorical Questions

"Watch out!"

Temari alerted Shikamaru using her fan to blow away the poisonous projectiles that headed straight to him. The puppet dashed towards Temari now, surprising her in the process, as it began to use close combat against her. However, the puppets knuckles opened up, spikes coming out of the compartments in them.

"Shit!" Temari cursed now concentrating more on dodging the punches the puppet threw. One touch from those spikes and she might as well be good as dead. She knew they were poisonous. The perks of being the sister to a puppet master.

Shikamaru noted his partner's sudden difficulty as opposed to way she previously had the upper hand. He noticed she was fiercely focusing on dodging the puppet, which he concluded it meant her life depended on being swift. As such there was no time to take a stance. If he knew her as well as he did, he was certain she was waiting for the moment to strike back. The question was, however, would the Akatsuki give her those fraction of seconds she needed for that? He doubted. That meant it was his turn now.

Finally.

Shikamaru took his trademark stance, bending his knees, fingers in front of him.

"Kagemane no Jutsu!"

Shikamaru's shadow began to extend, moving forward, snaking its way towards Sasori. However, he didn't really expect to succeed in capturing the Akatsuki's shadow. Effectively, the moment Sasori noticed the shadow close in rapidly towards him, the former Suna ninja jumped out of the way.

"Oh no you don't." Shikamaru furrowed his eyebrows, manipulating his shadow to follow Sasori. Come on…just do it.

Realizing the boy had a surprising mastery of his jutsu, Sasori retracted his puppet instantly after which he ceased escaping allowing, instead, for his puppet to be caught in his opponent's shadow. Sasori attempted to use his chakra threads to move his puppet but to no avail.

Quite a handy jutsu the boy's got. And judging from his expression… Sasori looked at the young ninja, noticing the faint smirk that painted across his face. …it seems this was his plan all along.

"Now Temari!"

"Wind Style: Art of Gust Blade!"

Releasing the wind, Temari used her chakra to manipulate it allowing it to head straight to their target: Sasori. Shikamaru had predicted that using his Kagemane would force Sasori to use the puppet as a scapegoat. And with Temari's attack, the Akatsuki only had one option viable: abandon its puppet or be caught in her ruthless windstorm.

As predicted, Sasori did abandon the puppet. But what Shikamaru had not predicted was what he was going to do next: Sasori's right hand extended and purple smoke covered the area.

"Dammit! Don't breathe that Shikamaru! And don't release your jutsu!" Temari warned.

Immediately, she called off her previous attack, now using her fan to make the poisonous smoke dissipate. When the smoked cleared, Shikamaru still had the puppet in his possession, but Sasori was no longer unequipped for he now held a second puppet in his control.

"Tch. This is so troublesome…" The genius boy sighed.

He'd be lying if he didn't say he wasn't expecting the Akatsuki member to not have something up his sleeve. But he had half hoped it wouldn't be something that was such a drag like this.

"You have a good brain in your head, boy. I'm impressed. But you underestimate me. I'm a real puppet master."

She didn't know how long the water had been running. Time had stopped. Or had it gone fast-forwarded? She didn't know. If time was to be measured by the tears she had shed, then she'd say years had passed. Even her fingers began to wrinkle due to how much water her pores had absorbed. The water from the shower that so faithfully continued to fall down had washed all the tears from her eyes and face. No one would guess she had been crying. The only thing that could even hint it was her swollen red eyes. A gentle knock on the door was all that was needed to bring Sakura back to reality.

"Sakura-chan? Are you alright, un?"

It was Deidara.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll be right out." She replied trying to sound as natural as possible. She didn't want to worry Deidara. She didn't want him to know she had been crying. If he knew, he would ask.

And if he asked, he might know it was about Itachi.

Itachi…

Sakura shut her eyes and vigorously shook her head; her short wet hair splashing the walls. No. Stop thinking about him…

Her arms found themselves around her body.

Stop thinking about him…

Then why didn't you even try to fight him?

Stop thinking about him…

She kept saying it over and over again like a mantra. She didn't want to think about Itachi. Or the way her body reacted around him. Or the way he had kissed her. And even less the way she had done nothing to fight back. The way she had let him do it. Everything was vivid in her mind, as if it had happened only a few minutes ago. Her body still remembered the heat; the sensation of Itachi's hard chest against hers; her rapidly beating heart underneath all of it; his hot breath tickling her lips.

His mouth…

Her mouth…

His mouth against her mouth.

His tongue playing inside it.

His taste…

No…stop it. Please…

Then why didn't you even try to fight him?

Disgust filled her entire self again. Feeling dirty, repulsive. Feeling treacherous. Feeling like she had done the same thing Itachi did to him: betray him. Cupping water in her hands, Sakura splashed her face, over and over again, using the back of her hand to rub her lips.

Only Sasuke-kun…only Sasuke-kun…

She had to get that away from her mouth. Wash it. Wash it until there was nothing left; until she could no longer savor the sweet but salty taste from Itachi's lips in hers.

Neji and Hinata stared at Kisame, their byakugans still fully activated but their facial expressions showed concerned and slight frustration. The shark-like Akatsuki rested his Samehada on his shoulder, waiting to see what the two Konoha ninjas did next.

"Neji nii-san…"

"I know, Hinata-sama."

They both understood. Kisame had evaded all of their attacks. And neither could shake off the reason why that was happening: Sakura had told him how they fought.

Sakura had helped him.

Would you betray us?

"What's wrong, brats? I'm getting real bored here." Kisame hurried.

He'd like if he said it was easy avoiding getting hit by their trademark jutsu. Both kids were fast and swift in their moves. They had their formations carefully planned. But thanks to the bitch, he understood better how to fight them. And he also noticed something while fighting them: they would avoid Samehada at all costs. That he could use to his advantage.

"Hinata-sama, you stay here while I engage him. I have an idea. You'll know what to do." Neji said to which Hinata firmly nodded.

Their teamwork had improves so drastically over the years that they now even comprehend each other better, without even needing much words to communicate battle plans. They had their formations and strategies already formulated. But sometimes, such as now, a simple information that may seem vague to others, for them it was as clear as their eyes.

Neji sprinted towards Kisame. The Akatsuki man braced himself. His eyes noticed the Hyuuga's palms preparing for contact. Samehada soflty bellowed, censing the opponent's chakra. Right before contact, Kisame placed Samehada in front of him. Neji recoiled, as Kisame had expected. However, the Konoha boy instantly disappeared and reappeared crouching behind Kisame at his opposite side.

Kisame prepared to swing his sword when suddenly he felt the boy's chakra begin to surround him, being now visible to the naked eye. Samehada shuddered in anticipation.

"What the-"

"Eight Trigrams: Palm Rotation!" Neji released the chakra that had engulfed him like a bubble, rotating his body, causing Kisame to be thrown away, slamming against a tree. The blast had caused him to lose Samehada in the process.

Dammit! I wasn't expecting this… Kisame snarled but before he could think anything else, the female Hyuuga appeared in front of him.

"Eight Trigram Two Palms!"

Hinata prepared for the signature 64 palm technique, confident the enemy was caught off guard. However, right when it seemed she had succeeded in landing the first wave of attack, the figure of Kisame turned into water and dissolved.

"Suiton: Bakusui Shoha!"

Kisame spat a great volume of water from his mouth, creating a massive body of water that became a wave. Knowing that his comrades were in the premises, although not too near him, the former Mist ninja recoiled the amount of chakra he used to create the wave.

Neji and Hinata both jumped towards the tree branches, escaping the wave that threatened to drown them. Trees crumbled as the powerful water crashed into them. The Hyuugas leaped between breaches, closing in on Kisame from behind.

The shark-like Akatsuki smirked.

He changed his hand sign, "Water Clone Jutsu!"

Using the water from the previous wave attack, a two Kisames formed. Both extended their hands at the cousins, stopping them in midair.

"Water Prison Jutsu!"

Water began to engulf the Hyuuga pair, trapping them in an aquatic sphere. The startled ninjas struggled for their freedom and their lives but to no avail. The water clones' hands inside the water sphere prevented them from breaking free.

"Now be good little brats and stay there for a bit." Kisame chuckled. "If your breaths can hold that is."

Hinata looked at Neji. They both exchanged worried glances realizing their predicament. Neji in particular felt the most need to get out for he had to protect Hinata at all costs. He could not fail her now. Not her. Not before finding Sakura. At that moment, Neji swore to murder the Akatsuki that stood in front of them, taunting them with his smirk that highlighted his shark-like teeth. He would break free and he would kill him.

But how…?

"Ah, that was relaxing!"

Sakura stretched her arms behind her with a soft groan, taking a deep breath. Deidara was in the kitchen, sitting by the dining table. Their eyes met. Sakura smiled at him; her attempt at a charade to conceal the reality behind her unusually long shower.

He can't know. He can't know…

The kunoichi headed towards the cupboards, opening each and every one of them. There were no actual edibles, only a few spared cans that only God knew how long they've been there.

"Wow, there's really nothing here." She said, bending down to the lower cabinets of the kitchen counter. "Are these cans even good to eat? With how unstable you all are staying in one place I wouldn't be surprise these were all expired."

She continued making trivial conversation about cans and the food. Deidara only slightly narrowed his eyes. Something was not right. He didn't know what it was exactly, but he knew something was bothering her. And she was hiding behind her always-amazing smile and casual chat. He knew because while she showered he heard the faint sounds of sobs coming from the door.

She had been crying.

She didn't know that he had heard her.

But he had.

"Hmmm, they seem okay enough…" Sakura continued, taking a can in her hand, studying it from every side checking any signs of deterioration or an expiration date. "I think we should do some shopping though. I doubt this food will be enough for the five of us. And honestly- "

"Stop it." Deidara firmly interrupted her. He couldn't keep hearing her anymore. Forcing herself to make this stupid conversation when he understood her heart was aching.

"What do you mean, Deidara-kun?" The kunoichi looked at him, seemingly confused. Don't ask.

"You know what I mean. Stop forcing yourself to say anything. I know you don't give a shit about the food, un."

The blonde Akatsuki member walked towards Sakura. His blue eye locked intently in her emerald ones. There was no trace or hint that she had been crying. But he didn't need any physical proof. He just knew. He had heard her. The rosette girl stared at him bewildered. Her hands firmly gripped the counter behind her, nervous. Scared. Terrified.

Don't ask…

Had he heard her crying? Did he know? How could he have known? How could he have noticed? She didn't want him to say anything else. Anything more he said would have her confirm what he perhaps already knew. And if she confirmed then he would ask. She didn't want him to ask. She didn't want him to know.

Don't ask…

She didn't want Deidara to know that Itachi had kissed her. She didn't want him to know that she had kissed him. She didn't want him to know that she didn't do anything to stop him.

She didn't want him to know that she couldn't stop thinking about it.

Please…don't ask… I don't want you to hate me…

Metal clashed with metal, their sounds resonating in the battlefield. Both ninjas were at par in speed, neither of them showing signs of weariness. Ino stood by never losing her stance or her grip on her kuniai, prepared in case Kakashi needed her assistance. The two shinobis were caught in a heated battle of skills, using only taijutsu and their kunais. If not that her eyes were well trained to follow a battle, she'd say keeping up with their speed was a difficult task. If only she had the opening to use her Mind Transfer jutsu. It would give Kakashi the needed time to use his Chidori. She just needed Itachi to be immobile for one second. Only one. It was all she needed.

For a brief moment, the two male ninjas halted their attacks. Neither of them was even sweating.

"You seem distracted Kakashi. Is something worrying you?" The Uchiha taunted.

"Where the hell did you take Sakura?" Kakashi glared at him.

They had been so close to her and now, she was away from their grasp again. However, had she even been in their grasp? He still could not shake off the events from a few minutes ago. The way she had so willingly left with one of the Akatsuki. The familiar way she had even addressed them.

The way she had spoken to Itachi…

It was almost as if…she trusted them.

Did she trust him?

"Oh, her. Don't worry. She'll live a while longer. I find her most useful." Itachi darkly smirked at the Copy-nin.

The sinister way he words sounded made the composure Kakashi had so fervently kept in check to slightly slip away. What had he done to her? Had he hurt her?

Did she trust him?

Uchiha Itachi was a man who knew no scruples; who would do anything to get what he wanted. Even if it meant hurting others. He was all that was vile. The reason Sakura was even at their mercy in the first place.

Then why did she talk to him so calmly?

The Copy-nin turned briefly to look at his partner. He nodded once at her but said nothing. It took Ino a few seconds to catch on: he was going to give her a possible opening.

"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"

Blue mist sprang forth from Kakashi's covered mouth, covering the now pearly-white realm. Infused with his own chakra, the mist's thickness became formidable but he was careful to not over use it. It would be naïve to use so much of his chakra resource on it.

For two seconds, Kakashi took advantage of the concealment the mist gave him. His hand balled into fists. This whole situation reeked of something that made him uncomfortable. It wasn't just what Itachi had said. It was Sakura's behavior. It was the way she called that blonde way. It was the way the blonde one called her.

It was the way she was so confident that Uchiha Itachi wouldn't kill them.

Do you actually trust him?

Even if he is the reason everything happened…?

Deidara tried to find the words but he had noticed Sakura's body language. Her eyes remained fixed in him but her hands trembled ever-so slightly behind her. Something bothered her. And she was afraid. Afraid of what? He didn't know. What he did know is that this bothered him as well. Seeing her so scared; hearing her cry. Knowing the reason she was even here in the first place. Knowing she was Itachi's…prisoner…

Everything bothered him.

It unnerved him.

He wanted to say "fuck it all" and place his arms around her; embrace her. Pet her soft hair whispering that everything would be alright. That he was there to protect her. That he would treat her so, so good. He wanted to get her out of there.

"Do not forget where your loyalties lay Deidara."

Sasori's words rang in his mind. His loyalties...His loyalty was with Akatsuki. With Leader. With Sasori-danna. Hell, even with Itachi and Kisame. That's where his loyalty should be. No question about it. His mind understood that entirely.

His heart? Not so much.

In his heart only one word resonated. A word that made his entire being warm. That perhaps explained why his heart beat increased whenever he caught a glimpse of Sakura's warm smile. A word that had him doubt not only his present but even question his future. A word that felt both foreign and so familiar. A word that felt prohibited in his vocabulary and yet he wished to say it every day.

Love.

"Sakura-chan…" He whispered.

His eyes trailed her face. Her lips trembled while her teeth bit her lower lip. She was trying so hard to be strong. To be brave. To not cry. God knew how long she had been trying. How had she not crumbled yet? How can this cherry blossom remain so firm and not break apart? How can she even find the strength to smile as beautifully as she did?

How can someone like her exist?

Against whatever his mind said, his heart chose to take control over his body as his hands moved around the kunoichi, pulling her to him. Sakura's eyes widened, surprised at the unexpected expression of affection that Deidara was now demonstrating. His embrace tightened around her as his cheek rested gently on top of her head, feeling the softness of her hair against his skin.

"I'm sorry, un…"

That was all he could say. Sorry for what though?

For everything

And it was at that moment when he said apologized that all of the sudden barriers Sakura had placed around her heart began to crumble. The tears she had so fervently suppressed now cascaded down her cheeks. The lump that had formed on her throat was released in an aching wail of sorrow. Instinctively, her trembling arms sought Deidara's comfort, holding him just as tightly as he held her; holding him as if he was the only thing that kept her from shattering into millions of tiny pieces. Finding the solace she so desperately needed, for all this time the only thing she had felt was how her mind, soul, and heart was slowly falling into an abyss of loneliness and darkness.

She didn't know why he was even apologizing in the first place. Was it because of her friends? Because of her the fate she now carried on her shoulders? The reason she had that fate now? Or maybe it was because of Itachi? None of those questions mattered right now. He didn't ask. She didn't ask.

He just held her.

And she held him.

Don't ask…

Temari and Shikamaru faced off against Sasori's puppets. But they could no longer rely on each other to form a strategy. Their focus was solely on the puppet in front of them since the red-haired man was controlling both. Many people could try and master his techniques but only he was the real puppet master. Only he knew the true art in puppetry. That's why no one could ever surpass him.

Temari used her fan, sending razor-cutting winds. The boy genius used variations of his shadow jutsu. The puppets all reacted differently and accordingly to their attacks. It further amazed Shikamaru how the Akatsuki could control each puppet so flawlessly and with one hand.

During the fight, he noticed a mist that slowly approached them, its thickness in chakra feeling like a weight that fell upon their shoulders. Sasori and his puppets became clouded, losing themselves in the pearly-white realm that surrounded them.

"Temari, conceal your chakra and move at nine o clock. I'll give you the cue to attack." Shikamaru instructed thus heading away from the forest area and into the open space between Sasori and the former Akatsuki home.

The mist was still clouding everyone's sight and thanks to the chakra infused in it, it made it easier for them to conceal themselves by hiding their own chakra. Sasori's eyes wandered around, realizing he had lost any chakra trace from the two young ninjas. He retracted his puppets.

Once he was in position, the Nara genius took his stance, "Now, Temari!"

Swinging her folding fan with all her might, Temari generated strong gusts of wind that dissolved the mist surrounding them. Sasori braced himself, not losing control of his puppets. He was now able to see the woman and sense her. But the boy was not near her. No doubt he was concocting a plan.

"Shadow Sewing Technique!"

Reacting, the puppet master turned to the direction of the voice, hurling a puppet towards him but losing all sense of movement a second after.

"What is this?" He coolly wondered, never once losing his composure.

His entire body was immobilized, also feeling an unsettling discomfort in his wooden body. And despite having the chakra threads still connected to his puppets, they too were incapable of movement. Whatever his questions were the answer came when he noticed that not only his puppets but also himself were caught in materialized shadows that had pierced through them. Try as he might, he was unable to get away.

Shikamaru smirked at the puppet master. The child-faced Akatsuki remained stoic. This was certainly unsettling indeed. That boy was ingenious. In a matter of seconds he had formulated a plan using someone else's jutsu.

"Go at him, Temari!"

"No need to tell me." The Suna girl grinned, inwardly celebrating this moment that gave them the opportunity to achieve victory.

Meanwhile, the mist also posed no threat to the Hyuuga cousins. The Byakugan allowed them to easily see Kisame in front of them. His chakra feeling disrupted by the sudden blindness of the mist, though not enough for him to make a mistake and loosen his control of his Water Prison. But his confusion and inability to see them gave Neji the chance to look for a possible weak spot in his jutsu.

Found it!

"Who the hell did this? I don't know of anyone else who can perform this jutsu. How annoying…" Kisame growled.

He couldn't even see the brats in front of him; sensing them as also equally as annoying since the mist's chakra disrupted that. What he could sense, however, was the way Samehada gleefully began to absorb the mist.

Of course he'd have a banquet with this.

Suddenly, he felt his water sphere begin to expand but not by his own chakra, but by the male brat's one. Despite trying to contain him inside his jutsu, the boy attacked right at his weak spot causing the water prison to dissolve and break, proceeding to attack his own clone who vanished as a splash of water releasing the other pupil-less girl.

"Are you alright, Hinata-sama?" Neji gingerly held his cousin who coughed up water. She swallowed too much…

"I'm okay, Neji nii-san…" The Hyuuga girl said panting.

"Not bad, brat. But don't think you have the upper hand yet." Kisame chuckled, extending his arm. Samehada returnd to his possession but now, it was twice its size, and it even revealed its teeth matching the Kisame's own smirk.

"Thanks to this mist, Samehada had a good meal and he's quite ready to fight the both of you."

The fight was dragging on for too long, though. Even Kisame was aware of that. But Itachi was still somewhere fighting which meant it was not time to leave yet. Then again, what did it matter anyway? After all, he was quite dying to cut in half those two pansies in front of him

Kakashi of the Sharingan charged at Itachi. The Uchiha reacted quickly although he'd be lying if he said he had already seen him coming. The hidden mist surrounded the area with the user's chakra making it difficult to pin point. And with someone of Kakashi's caliber, he could very well move and attack without being detected previously. Both shinobis engaged in a battle of pure physical rawness.

Punch, jab, feint…in one Itachi took out his kunai but the Copy-nin moved sideways just in time albeit the cold metal of the weapon made contact with his cheek, opening a gash. And it was in that fraction of a second when Itachi's sharingan changed. Its signature black swirls shifting into what was recognized as the Mangekyou sharingan.

Shit…! It was too late for Kakashi to counter it. He was already trapped in Itachi's genjutsu. And Itachi made sure to make it especially hellish for him: illusions of the various ways Sakura could die.

The mist began to dissipate making the surroundings clear again. Ino narrowed her eyes, scouting the area for any signs of Itachi or Kakashi. Why lift the mist now though? A bit further ahead, she saw two shadowed figures whom she recognized to be the two shinobis. However, the scenario was odd: Itachi stood in front of Kakashi while the latter remained motionless.

That was not good at all.

The blonde girl quickly placed her hands in front of her, forming the hand sign for the Yamanaka clan signature jutsu.

"Shintenshin no Jutsu!"

Two seconds later, Kakashi's eyes locked with Itachi's Mangekyou. Pulling out a kunai, he swung his arm at the Uchiha but the latter jumped out of the way in time. His crimson eyes narrowed as Kakashi charged at him, kunai in hand.

How did he escape my genjutsu?

Kakashi engaged the Mangekyou wielder throwing a series of punches, jabs, and kicks. All which Itachi was able to defend against or dodge with relative ease. The difference in speed and skill was significant. Obliquely Itachi looked around the premises in search for the kunoichi that was with him. She found her body slouching lifeless on the ground.

Ah. So that's it. She is a Yamanaka.

Ino was finding it difficult to keep up with Itachi. Before he was only dodging although she could see his eyes were studying her movements. Afterward, his strategy changed to counterattacking, probably already knowing it was her in Kakashi's body. The Uchiha's speed was formidable and even though she was capable of blocking his attacks, it was proving to be challenging. It would have been easier to switch consciousness with Kakashi but with how his mind was, he wasn't eligible to do it.

Itachi went for a straight jab. Using Kakashi's body, Ino placed her arms in front of her to block it, bracing herself. The punch connected with Kakashi's arms, making him let out a grunt in the process. With his fist still connected, his free hand moved and punched the Copy-nin in his side, right on his rib cage. Grunting, Ino lost her footing and stance giving Itachi the opening he sought: the jab straight to her cheekbone.

While Ino stood back up, Itachi sprinted towards her original body. Blood now dripped from a corner of her mouth. Her cheek was swollen in the same spot he had hit Kakashi. It was now or never.

The Nara boy concentrated to hold his jutsu but his eyes noted that the mist had begun to disappear from all over the surrounding area. He couldn't see where Hinata and Neji had gone but what he could see further ahead was Kakashi, Ino, and Itachi. His eyes squinted at that point. Something was wrong.

Itachi was charging at Ino.

Ino was slouched on the ground.

Ino had used her Shintenshin.

Itachi was going to kill her.

"INO!" Shikamaru cried, his jutsu releasing in the process.

Alarmed and realizing the danger her body was in, Ino prepared to release her Shintenshin. Her body was defenseless and openly vulnerable to being killed which she didn't doubt was Itachi's intention.

Itachi lifted his kunai.

Release!

Blood gushed down the kunai to Itachi's hand. His face remained expressionless. Ino stood eye widened. Her hands held her own kunai that had stabbed Itachi's dominant arm, but they began trembled, releasing their grip on it. Her eyes wandered down, feeling the uncomfortable and painful cold metal that had pierced her skin. The Uchiha pulled it out making Ino let out a grunt of pain.

"Better treat her unless you want to lose the only medic you have for finding your cherry blossom." Itachi said to Kakashi before leaving, knowing he would have no choice but to stay.

Despite his disorientation at not only the release of the Shintenshin but also the horror of the genjutsu he was subjected to, Kakashi ran to Ino. The blonde girl gasped and panted in pain as the blood trickled down her stomach.

"Hang on, Ino. Just hang on!" The sliver-haired man pleaded, placing his hands on her and pressing against the bleeding wound.

Sensing Itachi departing, Kisame and Sasori followed noting that their own opponents had also abandoned them for the kunoichi Itachi had just stabbed. Their job was done, it seemed.

"It's your lucky day, brats." Kisame left the Hyuuga pair, following Itachi.

"Until next time." Sasori bid his farewell, retracting his puppets, leaving the Suna girl.

Neji and Hinata ran to Kakashi having heard Shikamaru's cry just earlier. The latter had already headed straight to where Ino was. He knelt down, his eyes trailing her injury. It was deep. His hands balled into fists, anger boiling inside him. Uchiha Itachi was infamous for being ruthless, but he didn't think he would attack a defenseless person.

And yet he had…

Is this what you trusted him with, Sakura?

"What do we do now, Kakashi-sensei?" Hinata inquired.

"We retreat…"

They had failed…again.

"You can slow down, you know. The Konoha brats won't follow us." Kisame caught up with Itachi who seemed to be in a hurry, evident in the speed he used. Unless you're more worried about leaving the bitch with Deidara.

Itachi ignored his partner. He had wasted enough time with Kakashi and the Yamanaka girl. Although the circumstances gave him no choice but to let Sakura go on ahead with Deidara, he didn't want to leave her a minute longer with him. She was his property. And Deidara was beginning to have the habit of ignoring that small detail.

Everyone slept silently around the campfire. They had all been too worn out to continue through the night. Then again, why wouldn't they be worn out, especially Sakura and Naruto? They had just left from their encounter with Sasuke in Sound. An encounter that was the abysmal contrary of what they had wished: Sasuke turned his back on them. He remained in Sound.

He had attacked them.

He had attacked her.

Noticing that Sakura was not nearby, Naruto stood up and went to look for her, finding her sitting in front of a nearby lake. Her arms rested on her knees as her sorrowful emerald eyes gazed at the calm nothingness of the lake; the full moon illuminating it right at the center. And that's when he heard them: her sobs.

Sakura was crying.

"He left us…" She whispered in an almost inaudible voice that was caught with her sobs. "He…"

Suddenly, she felt the familiar warmth of Naruto's arms surrounding her from behind. He held on to her tightly but she wondered if he was holding on for her sake or his. She understood what all of this meant to him. She understood better than anyone how important this mission had been for him. It wasn't just trying to bring his friend back. It was also about the promise of a life time he had sworn that day with his unforgettable smile. Back then, she had really believed in that smile. And for some reason, she still believed in it.

He didn't smile on the way back from Sound.

"We'll get him back Sakura-chan. I promise you. I promise. I promise…" Naruto said, resting his forehead on her shoulder.

Sakura placed her hands around his. He couldn't look at her. She couldn't look at him. It was too painful to see each other's eyes. They knew that the moment their eyes locked, the moment they see the heartbreak that was so evident…then they will also break down.

And so they both cried without ever looking at each other. They just held one another as tightly as they could because that was all they had left. It was the only thing that kept their hearts beating for at least another day. It was what made them able to find a way to smile. It was what gave them a reason to continue living.

That night, Sakura swore to never cry in front of Naruto again.

Feeling Deidara's arms around her trembling body reminded her so much of that night. The comfort. The solace. The soft words he cooed in her ear that reassured her she wasn't alone. That he was sorry of the big gaping hole in her heart that still bled, and that still ached. For just one moment, and one moment alone, she wanted to pretend that the one who held her so affectionately was Naruto. She needed that…for that moment at least.

I'm sorry Naruto-kun…I swore I'd never cry in front of you again…

Tears kept rolling down her cheeks.

But it's too much…

Her voice kept breaking into more heartbreaking cries.

I can't anymore…

Her hands gripped the fabric of the thick cloak; clinging on to whatever life a piece of clothing could give her. And oddly enough that piece of clothing was what held her on to the little remain of sanity she had left.

Why did you have to go? Why did you leave me?

None of this would've happened if…if…

It all returned to him. To Itachi. If it hadn't been for him, they would all still be together. Sasuke, Naruto, and herself along with Kakashi-sensei. All together as Team 7. Taking on missions, becoming jounins, Naruto finally becoming a chunnin and surely enough the Hokage soon…all of them…together…

But that hadn't happened.

That won't ever happen.

And it was all because of Uchiha Itachi.

It's all Itachi's fault…

…and I kissed him.

I kissed him…

I…

How could she have done such a thing? How could she have allowed such a thing? How could she even dare face Sasuke if she had done such a thing? Did their pain mean nothing to her? She was the worst of them all. The absolute worst. She had kissed the very man that was responsible for every single pain they had all went through. And for every single tragedy that befell upon her.

If only it hadn't been Itachi.

If only…

If only…it had been Deidara…

"Deidara-kun…" Sakura whispered. "Kiss me…"

"Wha-what…?!" The blonde Akatsuki looked at her startled, feeling his cheeks flush in embarrassment. Had his ear heard correctly?

"Kiss me…please." Her glistening emerald eyes looked at him, pleading. "Please…" Make it all go away.

Deidara was too stunned to say anything. What could he say anyway? The cries that had come out of Sakura's throat were ones he never thought a human would even emit. It was heartbreaking; an ironic notion for someone who is supposed to have no heart. After all, he was not ignorant of sorrow and pain. He was an Akatsuki member and former terrorist. He had seen his share of sadness and women crying, mostly because he was the reason they all cried.

That's right…

His hands were full of blood, death, and pain.

Unlike Sakura-chan…

Even so, even though he knew all of this, for some reason having felt Sakura's shaking body inside his arms, hearing her aching wails, feeling her tears against his cloak…everything…it all made him hurt in the place where he shouldn't have a heart. It hurt as if someone was squeezing it. The aching pain made me realize that apparently he did have a heart somewhere. After all, it was the same heart that had made him hug her just now. The same one that had made him even wish he could take her away from all of this.

The same heart that made him think back on that specific word: love.

"A-are you sure, Sakura-chan?"

The thought of kissing her had been unusually pleasant. He didn't think imagining pressing his lips against her rosy ones, or imagining how they tasted would be something he was now even longing to discover. He didn't think he would ever want this kunoichi in such a way.

Sakura nodded slowly. Her hands firmly gripped his cloak again. Her teeth bit her trembling lower lip. She was fighting the tears again. She was trying to be strong. She was trying…but how much longer could she keep trying on her own? How much longer until her smile disappeared forever?

"If that's what will stop the tears and make you smile again, then I'll do anything for you Sakura-chan, un."

With that he leaned towards her, at first they were awkward; both unsure what to do exactly. As their lips came closer, he could feel her breath tickling it playfully. Tempting him even further of what he could discover on his own. It was almost too much to contain.

And then, the gap between them closed.

At first, it was gentle. A light peck that projected the comfort he wanted to give her. To show her he was there and he would kiss her as many times it was necessary if it meant she wouldn't cry like that again. However, before he realized, the kiss became stronger, hungrier. He wanted to taste her more. His mouth pressed her to open, darting his tongue inside it, savoring the crevice. God, can a human even taste so heavenly?

She didn't deserve any of this. Not this life. Not those tears. She only deserved to be happy and smile. Was there a way to spare her from this fate she now carried? Was there a way to spare her from…Itachi? He would find a way. Even if he died in the process, he would find a way to get her back to where she belonged. For the first time in his life, his mind synchronized with his heart.

He would get Sakura away from Leader. And from Itachi.

Although the sudden change in Deidara's kiss had surprised her, it was by no means something unpleasant. On the contrary, it felt welcomed. It felt comforting. Unlike Itachi's kiss, this one didn't make her feel guilty or soiled. Unlike Itachi, Deidara felt safe.

Unlike Itachi…Deidara had not been the reason of their pain.

The reason of her pain.

Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer to her. Groaning and moaning as she indulged further deeper in the moment, wanting to savor it. Wanting to have her brain dissolve all the aching in her heart and all the reasons why she hated herself.

Just then, her eyes slowly opened only to widen instantly in terror as emerald met the pair of blazing crimson eyes that glared at her from the front door.

A/N: WOW! I can't believe I wrote this. After 6 years on hiatus I wrote something again. All I can say is that a special friend of mine who had already read this (we hadn't met back then), cheered me on to continue the story. She liked the ideas I had for the fanfic and urged me to keep writing. It took me a bit, especially with the fight scenes. I'm sure you can tell I struggled. Fight scenes have never been my strength, and even more so now that I'm very rusty. I need to dust my writing skills off. I wasn't satisfied with various things in this chapter, but I hope that I can improve it as I keep on writing. Of course, I also hope that you all enjoyed it despite the obvious flaws it may have.

I tried to make this a dramatic chapter with feels and to portray this conflict that is building up with Sakura and herself, as well as the Konoha group who suspect of Sakura's change of heart with Akatsuki. I have many interesting ideas for Genesis that I'm still brainstorming and working out details. And its possible you'll all meet one of those ideas in the next chapter! That said, thank you all for the wonderful reviews of the last chapter. It made me smile to read all the encouragement you all gave me as well as to see those who had been waiting for this to continue. It may take a while to chapters to come but I certainly hope I don't disappoint you.

So thank you! Thank you so much! Please Read & Review :)

PS: I need all your opinion on something. Its for the way I write the jutsus. This chapter used various terms on purpose so you can all see which you prefer better. Would you like me to writhe the jutsus in their Japanese name, in their English name translated from Japanese, or in the way it sounds in the English dub? I'll do whatever the majority says. This is, after all, a fanfic for your enjoyment! That said, I do not have an official beta. If anyone wants to be my beta, contact me.