beewolf

And When I am Formulated, Sprawling on a Pin

Chishiya’s hands stilled. ‘Tell me, then,’ he began, ‘what meaning could you possibly find in books that you couldn’t find here? Every game you play pushes you to the edge of survival. There is no more meaning to life than that.’ He paused, looking me coldly in the eye. ‘When you used my taser on the tagger… when she died simply because you lived… where were your books then?’

An Iron Box

'It was like drifting to the bottom of the ocean. There was nothing down here, just a quiet numbness and a dark pressure that felt so still, so familiar. It was exactly how I liked it. At least, so I thought.'A series from Chishiya's perspective, based around my other fanfic 'And When I am Formulated, Sprawling on a Pin.'

The Oar in the Sand

'You know, Odysseus was told to plant an oar in the ground so he could finally stop wandering and go home to Penelope. I guess home is looking pretty far away right now... but at the same time, I think I’ve already found it.' 

The sequel to my other Chishiya x OC/reader fanfiction, 'And When I am Formulated, Sprawling on a Pin'.

I can’t believe it! A mission. 

But it wasn’t just any mission. One where she was a partner. An equal. For once, she wasn't going to be closely monitored or chaperoned out of distrust. How could she even begin to repay him for something this incredible?

Homemade dango it is! 

As her initial excitement wore off, she gradually became aware that Itachi was stiff as concrete beneath her arms. Mortification swept over her as she realised that she had probably jumped the gun somewhere. Even if she knew him better than she ever had before, she didn’t really know where she stood with him. And relationships aside, it was obvious that Itachi wasn’t exactly a touchy-feely guy. 

Mortified down to her bones, Sakura had started to release him when she suddenly felt his hand on the small of her back. It was a simple gesture. One that suggested he was trying to diffuse the strangeness of the situation, even if it didn't really help. She appreciated it nonetheless.

‘You're welcome, Sakura,’ he said. When she backed away from him, he added, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow morning at the gates. Pack enough for an indefinite amount of time, and make sure to include civilian clothing. You're going to need it.’

She nodded, trying not to squeal in excitement. ‘I'll be there.’

He inclined his head, and with a single hand sign, his body split, disintegrating into a swirl of glossy crows that arched their wings and disappeared through the window. When the last crow had flown, the kitchen was silent. 

Finally alone, Sakura performed a small victory dance, twirling in the middle of her kitchen. But her good news was wasted on an empty kitchen — she needed to share it with everyone. Grinning and humming, she grabbed a sweater and headed out to track down her team. 

This time, the ramen was on her.

_______________________________

‘I'm surprised. Naruto is usually the first one here,’ Sakura mused, nursing her bottle of sake. 

On either side of her, Kakashi and Sasuke hummed in agreement. The booth was warm and the scent of ramen was hot and salty and oh so tempting. But it wouldn't be fair to start eating without Naruto. Sasuke and Kakashi had opted for water to start with, whereas Sakura had been in the mood for something a little stronger. She sipped her sake to dampen her hunger.

‘Give him time,’ Kakashi said. ‘I’m sure he'll have a good reason.’

‘I know, I know. I just…’

‘You just what?’ Kakashi prompted.

She thought it over, wondering whether or not she should spill the good news already. She wanted to wait until the team was all together, but then again, it wouldn't matter too much if she told Kakashi and Sasuke first, would it?

‘What is it, Sakura?’ Sasuke asked, and Sakura knew that she wouldn’t be able to stop herself. 

‘I was going to wait until Naruto arrived, but I might as well tell you both,’ she said, ‘I called you all here because I have a mission. And it's not herb picking again.’ A glimmer of intrigue flashed across their features as she whispered excitedly, ‘I can't tell you much, but it's an infiltration mission.’

Kakashi looked pleasantly surprised, yet proud that she was finally getting some field action again. On the other hand, Sasuke's face betrayed a myriad of emotions. He took a careful sip of his water. 

‘My father never gives you missions like that,’ he said. ‘How did you manage to convince him?’

‘I didn't. Your majestic unicorn of a brother did.’

‘My my,’ Kakashi murmured. ‘Itachi-san, hm?’ 

‘Nii-san did? He really requested you for a mission?’ 

‘Yep!’ Sakura happily swayed on her stool. ‘For whatever reason, he requires my skills.’

Sasuke was quieter than expected. He seemed to be carefully mulling over this new information, as though he couldn’t quite believe it. And with sudden realisation, Sakura remembered that Sasuke had been in her apartment when Itachi had sent her flowers. Thankfully, he had yet to bring up the bouquet of narcissus, but he was probably suspicious, or at least confused by their relationship.

After a long pause, Sasuke muttered, ‘I guess even he can see that you're being wasted in a herb garden.’

‘Hey, don't hate on the herbs Sasuke-kun. They save more lives than you'd think.’

Sakura was proud that she was finally getting back into the action again. Even though it took Itachi to convince his father, this was a huge step up. If she performed well, there was a chance Fugaku would start trusting her with important missions again. 

‘Before you both leave I'll have to thank him for giving you a chance,’ Sasuke said, then lowered his voice. ‘But Sakura, just be aware. Aniki is very serious. He made Anbu captain at thirteen. He's pretty calculating, and missions with him aren't like missions with Team Seven. He's ruthless and he'll do whatever it takes to complete the mission.’

‘It's true,’ Kakashi added. ‘I’ve worked with Itachi-san in the past. He has his own rules, and he always has a reason for everything he does. So if he gives you an instruction, just do it. Don't challenge him.’

‘Okaay, point taken,’ Sakura said. ‘Though if anything, he sounds like a pretty dependable mission partner.’

Sasuke let out a noise of frustration. His fingers clenched around his glass of water. ’Just don't let it get to you if he seems cold. I’ve heard jounin and Anbu complain about him being a strict captain, but he’s like that to everybody. Even me, sometimes.’

Sakura scowled and downed a cup of sake in one go. It seemed more like they were putting a damper on her good news rather than being pleased that she was finally back on the mission rota. What did they think she would expect? Fun and games? It was irritating, and dare she say it, patronising.

Maybe they're just concerned about my wellbeing. But still…

Beside her, Sasuke sighed. All of his earlier tension seemed to have melted away and now he was gazing into the distance. Sometimes, Sakura wondered if there was more to his relationship with Itachi than he let on. 

The shadows of Danzo’s sly grin flashed through her memory. 

Of course there’s more… but Sasuke would never know. 

‘This mission will be good for you,’ he said. ‘It's been too long since you were allowed to do something like this. And if my brother gets too arrogant, just tell him that you know about the blanket he keeps in back of his wardrobe.’

‘A blanket?’

Sasuke’s mouth curled into a devious smile. ‘Our aunt knitted it for him when he was a child and he used to fall asleep holding it. It's been over twenty years and he's still got it.’

Sakura stifled a giggle as she downed the last of her sake straight from the bottle. ‘Oh I’m definitely keeping that in my arsenal.’

Itachi Uchiha… killer of the Sandaime, the Hokage’s Right-Hand-Man, Genjutsu extraordinaire, master of the Sharingan, and lover of soft blankets.

No! The mental image just seemed so wrong. 

Regardless of his softer, dango-loving and cafe-hopping side, Itachi was terrifying to most. Despite knowing him through Sasuke, Sakura had always been wary of Itachi whenever she saw him in the streets.

One time, roughly a year before the coup took place, she had been chased across the Academy yard by a group of girls who were throwing pieces of leftover food from lunch. They laughed and teased Sakura endlessly as she sprinted through the gates with clumps of rice speckled all over her forehead and in her hair. 

She had rounded the corner of the street, only to slam straight into someone. Her knees buckled, and she would have fallen to the ground if not for the hand clasped around her arm. When she opened her eyes, a breathless scream tore through her. His eyes were bright red, bloody and piercing, and his black hair cast twisted shadows across his face. His hand released her arm, only to loom inches from her face, and out of sheer terror Sakura scrambled to her feet and set off home, weeping every step of the way.

At the time, she had been scared out of her wits by the strange crimson-eyed boy who looked faintly like the vampires she read about in books. But in retrospect, Itachi had likely been on his way to collect Sasuke from the Academy. And he hadn’t reached out to strangle her or drink her blood, but to brush the rice from her hair. 

Now, as she signalled for another bottle of sake, Sakura thought back on the incident with fondness. 

It’s funny how things turn out—

‘Oi, get off me! I'm only going to Ichiraku ramen! What's the big idea?!’

Naruto?

Sakura leapt off her stool, out of the booth and into the street. Behind her, Kakashi and Sasuke did the same, and she felt the tense surge of their chakra signatures as a patrol officer appeared, dragging a writhing Naruto toward them by his jacket collar.

‘You bastard! Let go of me!’ 

Naruto kicked at the officer who deftly avoided his blows as though they were dealt by a small child throwing a tantrum. At the sight of Team Seven, the officer hurled Naruto toward them. Sakura and Kakashi kneeled to catch him as he skidded across the dirt.

Sakura's eyes zeroed in on the number of gashes and bruises decorating Naruto's shins and hands. His left cheek was already swollen and red. ‘What's going on?’

Kakashi's eye narrowed. ‘Explain yourself.’

The officer coldly looked between them. ‘Your monkey over there was at the gates of the Hyuuga compound attempting to engage the guards in battle.’

Kakashi stepped forward, but a yell from Naruto cut him off before he could respond. ‘Yeah, because your bastard friends were bothering Hinata-chan!’

The officer flashed his Sharingan at Naruto, who stood his ground and met the officer's gaze squarely. ‘My “bastard friends”, your superior officers, are merely doing their job. It is not your place to interfere.’ 

Ignoring Naruto's demands to turn around and fight him, the officer’s eyes roamed over Sakura. He muttered something under his breath, quietly as so not to draw attention, but loud enough that their trained ears heard it clear as day.

‘Traitor.'

Sakura's fists curled, her nails embedding into her palms. Naruto's jaw tightened. He opened his mouth to hurl an insult, when Kakashi spoke in a low and dangerous tone. 

‘You're going to have to leave.’

‘You're asking me to leave?’

‘I am.’

‘And if I don’t?’

‘If you don’t,’ Kakashi said quietly, ‘I will force you. And if that happens, you're going to wish you'd chosen to walk away of your own volition.’

The officer's mouth tilted into a sneer. ‘What are you going to do, use your Sharingan on me?’

Kakashi's remaining eye widened briefly, then closed with barely restrained fury. Sakura’s heart skipped a beat at the cruelty of such a comment.

How dare he! How dare he bring that up!

Sakura’s patience shattered at the officer’s smug expression. Deep down, she knew that no matter the ramifications of her actions tonight, it wouldn't matter. She wouldn't care, because at least she'd have stuck one up for Kakashi. Her fist shot out, electric blue and charged with chakra, toward the officer's chin. But before it could make contact, a hand clamped down on her wrist.

‘Etsuji.’ 

Calm and collected, Sasuke spoke with an air that demanded authority. He looked at Sakura, and she instantly knew that he was asking her to stand down and trust in him. She nodded and he released her wrist.

The officer bowed stiffly. ‘Yes, Sasuke-sama?’

‘You will leave quietly, and you're going to forget that this incident ever happened,’ Sasuke told him. ‘And if you don't, you can forget all about that promotion you've been pestering my father for.’

With a flicker of annoyance, the officer bowed once more. This time, the gesture was exaggerated and satirical. Sasuke's lips thinned at the action, but he said nothing.

‘Very well,’ the officer said. ‘Have a good evening, Sasuke-sama.’

Without a backward glance, the officer left Team Seven standing outside Ichiraku. At first nobody moved or spoke, their evening tainted by the events that had just occurred, and by the prying eyes and whispers that now swept along the street. 

It was Sasuke who finally muttered, ‘I'll speak to my father. He's not getting that promotion either way.’

__________________________________

Itachi knew she wouldn't be late. 

The streets were desolate at this time of morning, partially due to the fact that the sun had not yet risen, but also because the curfew was still active for another hour yet. Anyone without a pass or mission slip would be stopped and questioned. 

He was waiting by the gate, prepared and ready to depart. Above him, atop of the village walls, the last stretch of the night patrol was watching him idly. Well, some were watching. Others had likely fallen asleep on the job.

His father hadn’t given him the mission scroll — this was far too risky should somebody get their hands on it — but he had every last detail committed to memory. Not that there was much to memorise. The mission itself was self-explanatory. Get into Kirigakure, find out what they can about the Mizukage's plans toward Konoha and the mysterious seal they found on the Kiri nin's tongue, then get out. Fast.

There was a sharp intake of breath from one of the guards above. Itachi looked up. 

And there she was. 

She was dressed inconspicuously in black shinobi gear, her pack strapped to her back, expression determined yet hesitant. She glanced up at the officers on the village walls, her hand tightly clutching a scrap of paper — her mission slip. 

He understood her trepidation. She was expecting to be stopped at any moment, apprehended perhaps, or even dragged to the Hokage’s office. And so, Itachi stepped forward to greet her. 

‘Sakura.’ 

Something flickered in her expression. Relief. Did his presence truly bring her such comfort? The thought disturbed him somewhat, but Itachi pushed it aside for now. With a nod, he gestured to the shinobi at mission register who jotted down their names and time of departure. 

For the most part, her apartment was neglected. Dishes had been left in the sink and the surfaces needed dusting. A lot of dusting. Itachi picked up a framed photograph and wiped away the layer of dust coating the glass. It was a picture of a woman with brown hair twisted into a tight bun. She was cradling a young girl on her knee, and they were both dressed in traditional kimono. Itachi recognised Sakura instantly by her hair and large green eyes. The woman, however, looked very different. 

Her mother? 

It was unusual that such treasured photographs were covered in dust. But judging by the meticulously placed ornaments and the tidy stack of books on the coffee table, Sakura was not a messy person by nature. The state of her home could be explained by her lack of free time. Sasuke had often complained that Sakura was being worked into the ground.

Itachi understood this well; his own surroundings suffered whenever he was away on missions. It wasn't unusual for him to return home to find a thin coat of dust over his bed. However, it was extremely unlikely that Sakura had been on a mission recently. After her tutelage with Tsunade was discovered, Sakura’s missions were capped. The only missions she received now were usually medical in nature, and should she leave the village, she would be accompanied by a trusted member of Anbu. Even in these cases, Sakura's missions were usually of little import. His father didn't trust her with anything high-ranking.

It's a shame that her abilities have not been put to better use.

As Itachi silently explored her home, he wondered how much it truly bothered her. He had yet to see her complain about being tied to the village, but she probably hid her frustration from her friends. They were already frustrated enough about the situation. In fact, Itachi distinctly remembered one evening in which Sasuke returned home fuming and had refused to eat with their father present. As far as Itachi recalled, Sasuke had not spoken to Fugaku for the two months following, and the tension between the two sparked all sorts of rumours within the Uchiha clan.

Foolish little brother… Father is too far gone to see sense. 

Itachi thought he'd seen every room in Sakura’s apartment when he noticed a door in the corner of the living room. It was hidden in the shadows, and at first, he assumed that it was merely a cupboard. The door was no taller than four feet, and both the door and handle was painted white to blend into the wall. It was only when he picked up on the sharp scent of incense that he decided to investigate.

He had an inkling of what was behind the door, and he knew he should walk away out of respect for Sakura's privacy. But some strange part of him felt that she owed him a glimpse into her own past. She had borne witness to some of his most personal memories, and was it so selfish that she should return the favour? 

He took the handle and opened it.

His suspicions were correct, and he felt a weight tug at his chest.

The shrine was small but well decorated. Half-melted candles were arranged around two photographs. The resemblance Sakura shared with each was incredible — her mother's eyes and mouth, and her father's nose and cheekbones. The two pictures were copies of the regulatory photographs that all villagers are requested to have taken as part of their official paperwork. Itachi had a distinctly uncomfortable feeling that any other photographs had been destroyed in the coup. That could only mean… 

That other woman, she must be an aunt. 

In front of the photographs, Sakura had set up an assortment of objects, including a single wedding ring, a piece of a broken teacup, a hairbrush entangled with blonde hair, and a charred notebook.

At this point, Itachi knew that he had overstepped a boundary. He closed the cupboard door, and without a backward glance, left through the open window.

______________________________________

‘What do you mean my shift is covered?’

Sakura was barely lucid, clutching the phone with one hand as she pulled on her vest with the other. After sleeping through her alarm — and waking up with a splitting headache half an hour later than usual — she had called the hospital in a panic to explain that she would be running late. However, it looked as though she needn’t have bothered. There was a rustle on the other line as Tajima Ikue, the hospital receptionist, filtered through sheets of paper.

‘We received a message this morning stating that Haruno-Sensei is to have today off,’ Ikue replied smoothly. ‘I don't know the specifics of who sent the order, but I’m looking at the rota right now and Hiroshi-sensei is covering your shift instead.’

Sakura had an inkling as to who had organised this, and she made a mental note to treat him to some premium dango as a thank you gift. 

‘I see. Thanks for letting me know, Ikue-san,’ Sakura said.

‘You're welcome,’ Ikue replied, ‘I'll see you tomorrow, Haruno-sensei.’

Putting the phone down, Sakura crawled back into her bed with relief. She rubbed at her temple, idly sending chakra to soothe her headache. Itachi’s Tsukuyomi had taken its toll on her. If Sakura hadn't been a medic, the after effects would probably have been far worse. And yet, she felt as though she were suspended underwater. The pain above her temple had been reduced to a dull throb, and her joints and muscles were weak and sore.

But this wasn't going to stop her from making the best of her time off. Yes, Itachi had given her this day to rest. However, it was because of her work that she barely had time to spend with her teammates. There was no need to spar or train with them; she was just happy to enjoy their company for a while. 

And so, later that morning, Sakura left her apartment and located the familiar warmth of Kakashi's chakra. She found him on the very bridge that had served as their meeting spot as genin. His nose was buried in a copy of Make out Tactics, and he showed no acknowledgement of her presence.

‘Well this is surprising,’ he said at last, glancing her way as she leant against the railings beside him. ‘Aren't you usually at the hospital by now?’

‘Not today,’ she grinned. ‘I've been given a day off.’

His eye crinkled. ‘I'm glad. You're always overworked. A breather will be good for you.’ With one glance at her clothes, he added, ‘I'm guessing you're not here to train.’

‘I'm kind of supposed to be resting today.’

‘Oh? What happened this time?’

She laughed nervously. ‘Just overuse of chakra again,’ she lied. ‘You know me.’

Kakashi hummed in mock disapproval, although Sakura could sense the genuine concern under his facade. ‘What use is a medic who collapses from exhaustion?’

She brushed him off with a gentle smile. ‘You worry about me too much Kakashi-sensei. I can handle myself.’

‘I'm sure you can Sakura, but that doesn't change the fact that—‘ He paused, then sighed. ‘Naruto and Sasuke have sensed your chakra. They'll be here soon.’

Within less than a minute, Naruto and Sasuke appeared in the distance. Sakura almost giggled at the sight of them strolling casually, as though she hadn't sensed their chakra signatures racing through the village only seconds prior.

‘Sakura-chan!’ Naruto waved.

Sasuke followed close behind, smiling faintly in amusement.

‘Shocked to see me?’ she teased.

Naruto sheepishly scratched the back of his head. ‘Sort of. When I saw you with Kakashi-sensei just now, I thought you were a ghost.’

Sakura lightly slapped him across the head, causing Sasuke to smirk. ‘You saw me a couple of days ago. We even ate ramen together. How could you forget?’

‘You know what the idiot's like,’ Sasuke said. ‘He can't even remember what he had for breakfast this morning.’

‘Oi!’ Naruto shook his fist. ‘You bet your ass I can remember. It was cup ramen, curry flavour too!’

Sakura wrinkled her nose. ‘Ramen for breakfast?’

‘Yep, you should try it some time Sakura-chan. It tastes way better in the morning.’

Sasuke shrugged, nonchalant.  ‘I don't know why you're so surprised, Sakura.’ 

He's not wrong. What else did I expect?

‘I know, I shouldn't be so surprised.’ She turned to Naruto. ‘You realise you're a walking heart-attack waiting to happen, right? You’ll be the first ninja to die from excess sodium.’

Naruto opened his mouth to protest, however the moment was lost as Kakashi tucked his book back into his pouch and clapped his hands. 

‘Well then,’ Kakashi said, smiling beneath his mask. ‘It's great to have the entire team here, especially since I know how hard it is for you to get away from the hospital, Sakura. Obviously, since you mentioned that you're supposed to be resting, you won't be training with us today—‘

‘Hold on,’ Naruto cut in. ‘How come Sakura-chan is resting?’ 

His large blue eyes were fixated on her with worry, whereas Sasuke eyed her knowingly.

‘You've exhausted your chakra again.’

She sighed deeply. Heaven knows she hated lying to her teammates. ‘Kind of. That's why I've been given the day off. I have to rest up before going back to work tomorrow.’

Naruto sulked, pouting like a toddler. ‘It's not fair. What do you even do that takes so much time anyway?’

Sakura wished she was better at lying. A moment’s hesitation could easily give her away. Her work creating antidotes to airborne poisons was confidential, and no matter how much she trusted her team with all her heart, she was under a strict oath not to speak about her current projects. If word escaped that Konoha had developed antidotes to suspected airborne poisons, enemy villages would keep adapting their poisons, rendering Sakura's hard work useless.

And so, unable to speak the truth, Sakura settled for a slightly curved version of it. 

‘I heal people,’ she said. ‘You know that already, Naruto. What else do medics do?’

Although Naruto seemed to be placated with her answer, she was painfully aware that Kakashi was eyeing her stonily. Perhaps he knew what her work truly entailed. Even if he did, he would never talk about it. That was just the kind of man Kakashi was.

‘If that's the case,’ Naruto exclaimed, ‘then when I become Hokage, you'll never have to work this hard again Sakura-chan. At least not enough to drain your chakra.’

At this, Sakura's heart sank. Despite her agreement with Itachi, she knew that it would be a long time before Naruto would even be considered a viable candidate for the title. There were just too many hurdles. The biggest being that the political wrongs of the village needed to be set right.

‘Hn. The Hokage title is reserved for the Uchiha, Idiot.’

And just like that, the air seemed thinner. 

Sakura bit her tongue to keep from saying anything. Sasuke was surprisingly unlike the rest of his clan; he was unaffected by the Curse of Hatred that was rumoured to run in his family. But there would always be a bridge that Sasuke failed to cross regarding the brutal reality of his clan. 

Sakura recalled Itachi's memories vividly. The Uchiha children had taken shelter beneath the Naka Shrine, blind and deaf to the chaos above. It hadn't taken much effort to convince a group of children that their clan was superior to others. Sasuke had never stumbled across the charred remains of bodies. He had never ran barefoot through the streets as buildings burned around him. He had never experienced the horrors that stripped Naruto of his independence, Kakashi of his Sharingan, and Sakura of her parents. 

She was grateful when Kakashi swiftly began the morning training. Whilst his expression was concealed behind his mask, Sakura knew that he had also felt the unmistakable tension in the air.

________________________________________

Itachi knocked on the door to his father's office, however it wasn’t truly necessary. Fugaku recognised his son's chakra signature instantly.

‘Come in, Itachi.’

Itachi stepped inside and bowed stiffly. His father did not look up. ’You requested my presence.’

‘I did, yes.’ 

Fugaku rooted through his desk drawer before pulling out a mission scroll. He pushed it across the desk, where Itachi took it and lazily surveyed its contents. 

‘An infiltration mission.’

‘There has been an increase in the number of Kiri nin found along the border,’ Fugaku explained. ‘A team of Anbu ran into a group of them recently. They claimed that they were on a mission escorting a client, but we had a sensory-type amongst our squad, and there was no client seen or sensed in the area. I'm sure you’ve already read the reports.’

Itachi nodded. He had read over the details several times, perplexed by the situation. The Kiri nin had simply stated that they were on an escort mission, refusing to speak further. Any finer details were confidential and Konoha Anbu had no right to demand such information from another hidden village.

‘Normally, I would avoid sending you on a mission like this,’ Fugaku continued, folding his arms. ‘You are one of my strongest shinobi, and you are also my son and heir. If the Mizukage is indeed sending agents to potentially infiltrate Konoha, I would prefer to keep my strongest men here, should worst come to worst.’

It did not escape Itachi's notice that in his father's list of importance, Itachi's strength as a ninja took higher priority than their blood relation. But he said nothing on the matter.

‘There are very few people I trust with this mission,’ Fugaku said. ‘The villagers of Kirigakure have been suspicious of strangers for a long time, especially considering their bloody history. In order to complete this mission successfully, I need two ninja with high stealth and the ability to extract information without drawing attention.’

Itachi raised an eyebrow. ‘Surely there are Anbu operatives more suited to the job?’

‘The Anbu are needed here,’ Fugaku insisted. ‘They are to guard the village walls. I have said this already, Itachi.’ His voice lowered to a murmur, and Itachi could no longer be sure whether Fugaku was talking to his son, or to himself. ‘Naturally, Yamanaka Inoichi would be perfect for something like this. His information gathering abilities are some of the finest I've seen. But I want this mission to be carried out by loyal shinobi I can trust.’

There was an unmistakable venom behind those words. Itachi hadn't forgotten the incident many years ago in which the Yamanaka, Nara and Akimichi clans united to strike a rebellion, the result of which had included several further losses, including Yamanaka Inoichi's arm. From that point on, a curfew and lockdown on all inter-clan mingling was ensued as a means of preventing further conspiracy. The trio of clans had made a formidable enemy, and had it not been for an agent collecting information from the inside, the Uchiha clan would have fallen easily.

Information is the most valuable weapon of all.

‘There’s another matter to consider,’ Fugaku said, snapping Itachi out of his thoughts. ‘I would also like your recommendation for a suitable partner on this mission.’

Whilst the mission could technically be achieved by one ninja working solo, two nin working together maximised the volume of information gathered, while still being inconspicuous enough not to rouse attention. From the moment Itachi laid eyes on the mission slip, he knew that this was an opportunity he couldn’t let slide.

‘I have someone in mind,’ he replied. ‘I have reason to believe that Haruno Sakura would be an asset on this mission.’

Fugaku's expression instantly darkened. 

‘As you know,’ Itachi said, ‘her chakra control is flawless. She would be able to conceal her kunoichi background without error. And should the mission fail, the combination of her medical skills and field strength would boost our chances of us both returning in one piece.’

Fugaku looked far from impressed. If anything, his lip curled in disgust. ‘As I said, I want somebody I can trust.’

‘You trust me,’ Itachi interjected. ‘And I can assure you that I’d keep watch over her at all times.’

His father was practically seething at the suggestion of Sakura on such an important mission. But after a moment's thought, Fugaku gave Itachi a reluctant nod.

‘I don't like this, but I trust your judgement, Itachi. Do not let me down.’

With that, Itachi bowed and left the office. As far as he knew, Sakura's last mission had involved gathering medicinal herbs from a rural village at the border between Fire and Wind country. Whilst it would have been a peaceful mission, he suspected that deep down Sakura missed taking on something high-ranked. She was sure to be thrilled about their mission together, and the simple thought of Sakura's excitement left Itachi smiling.

__________________________________________

It hadn’t taken long for a Team Seven training session to turn into an all-out brawl between Sasuke and Naruto over who could punch holes in the most trees. Sakura would have happily put them both in their place, if not for her “chakra exhaustion”, and wisely chose to stay well away from the destruction. 

She had left them bickering over their scores, slipping away from the training grounds without either of them noticing. As much as she wished to stay and kick some sense into her idiotic teammates, Sakura had something else in mind. She wanted to pay Ino a visit. A proper visit this time. She had several hours before curfew, and she knew that the pig would be dying to gossip and chat freely without the clock ticking over their heads.

The two shinobi guarding the gates of the Yamanaka compound were different than last time. In fact, Sakura recognised one of them as Uchiha Tomoharu – a chunin only a couple of years younger than her and innocently swept up in his clan’s powerful grip. She had once saved after a botched mission. His team had carried him into the hospital, his leg slashed in several places and clearly septic. If not for Sakura’s team working on him all through the night, Tomoharu wouldn't have made it. Although Sakura had always made it clear that his teammates were the real heroes, Tomoharu never failed to show his gratitude towards her.

As she approached the gates, Tomoharu flashed her a boyish grin.

‘The gods must be rewarding me,’ he said. ‘It's been a long day and I didn't think I would be lucky enough to run into you, Sakura-sensei.’

She smiled automatically. Tomoharu was just like that; the warmth he radiated as a person made it impossible to place him alongside his relatives. In fact, now that Sakura thought about it, there was something about Tomoharu’s sunny nature that struck her as familiar. 

He’s so much like Shisui…  

Her heart ached at the memory of Shisui’s fate. 

‘Believe me,’ she said, ‘if anyone’s lucky here, it’s me. How have you been Tomoharu-kun?’

‘Sama.’ The other guard's steely voice cut through. He was glaring at Sakura. ‘You may refer to him as “Uchiha-sama” and nothing less.’

Tomoharu shifted uncomfortably, looking at his prickly partner with uncertainty. It was clear that he wanted to stand up for her, but didn’t want to make things worse. Sakura, however, was used to the Uchiha ruining her day. It felt so backwards, being forced to call Tomoharu by a name that he didn’t like. But it was the world they lived in. 

‘I guess we'll have to catch up some other day,’ Tomoharu muttered. This time, his smile was forced.

‘I suppose so,’ she said. ‘Perhaps when you’re not on duty.’

He nodded, and his mannerisms shifted, taking on an air of formality. ‘In that case, you may proceed, Sakura-sensei.’

Sakura bowed and walked through the web of chakra. It was strange watching Tomoharu's personality warp as he embraced his role as a guard. It was also so, so wrong. He was twenty. A chunin. He should have been out, having the time of his life on missions, not stuck on guard duty.

At least he actually reached his twentieth birthday. Shisui and Izumi weren't so lucky.

The thought weighed heavily on her mind as she strolled past rows of houses. Things hadn't changed at all. Whether it was Shisui, Itachi, Izumi, Tomoharu or even herself, children had always been forced to grow up a little too fast.

Don't think about it. It's your day off.

The voice in the back of her mind was right. This day was a gift. Dwelling on the cruel realities of life would only bring her sadness. 

She ploughed on through the Yamanaka district until she came to Ino's door. Unfortunately, it was Ino's mother who answered, inspecting Sakura shrewdly before explaining that Ino was out training. Sakura thanked her, and hoping not to drag out the tension any further, headed in the direction of the Yamanaka training fields. 

There was something about the training fields that soothed Sakura. While the main area had been cleared of any wilderness for ease, the grounds themselves were situated in a large meadow. Around the perimeter, the grass was sweet with wildflowers — flowers that many years ago, Sakura and Ino had strung together to make necklaces and fairy crowns.

‘Pig!’ Sakura called. Shin-deep in wavy grass and buttercups, she peered through the foliage. ‘It's me! I heard you were out here!’

Somewhere in the trees there was a snap of twigs, and Seconds later, a purple blur hopped down from a branch. Ino looked exhausted, her hair sticking to her face and her clothes brushed with soil. 

‘Hey Forehead.’ Ino predictably cornered her in a tight hug. ‘It’s funny, I was just thinking of taking a breather.’

The two sat down against the trunk of a large oak. Ino sipped at a water bottle and with one wrist, wiped the sweat from her forehead. Sakura closed her eyes and leant her head back against the bark. The afternoon sun warmed the exposed skin of her arms and legs, and Sakura could have easily fallen asleep right then and there.

‘So Itachi, huh?’

Oh no…

Sakura tensed, cracking her eyes open just enough to see Ino's sneaky smile. 

‘What about him?’ She asked, trying to brush off her nerves. ‘You know you can’t just go around calling him by his first name, what if somebody heard you? Plus, it’s rude.’

Ino hissed, and flicked Sakura’s upper arm. ’Don't play dumb with me, Forehead. I saw you together.’

’You saw us?’

‘Of course I did. You were out eating dango with that fine hunk of man meat.’

Sakura's stomach churned. The last time they spoke, she hadn’t mentioned anything about Itachi that could give his identity away. Likewise, Ino wasn’t as stupid as she sometimes acted. She could put two and two together. But more importantly, had she overheard their conversation at the dango shop? How much did she know?

There’s no way I can get Ino involved in this, Sakura thought, trying not to grimace.

‘So Forehead,’ Ino said. ‘Care to explain what you were doing dining out with the Hokage's right-hand man?’

Sakura could only hope that Ino would drop the subject. Who was she kidding? Of course Ino wouldn’t drop it. 

‘It was nothing. He was asking about a project I'm working on at the moment, you know, at the hospital.’

‘Yeah, sure he was,’ Ino snorted. ‘Don't lie to me, Sakura. I know you. Other people probably can't tell, but whenever you're talking about work you go all rigid and professional… kind of like a cardboard cut-out. Anyway, I know you weren't talking about work. You were way too relaxed for that.’

‘It really was nothing, Ino.’

‘Sakura I told you not to lie to me.’ Ino sat up on her knees, facing Sakura fully until it became impossible to ignore her. Her voice was barely above a whisper. ‘Last time, you said someone was asking you to choose between yourself and the greater good or whatever it was.’ 

Sakura opened her mouth to tell her that back then she had been speaking hypothetically, but Ino raised a finger to cut her off. 

‘Sakura, tell me straight. Is Uchiha Itachi blackmailing you or something?’

‘What? No!’

‘Then why the hell is he asking you such weird stuff about the greater good? Be honest with me. I don’t trust him, he’s one of them.’

Sakura's heart fluttered nervously. She was aching to confide in somebody; all of these secrets about Konoha’s past left her feeling like an unexploded mine. But she couldn't drag Ino into this. It was far too political. The fewer people knew about Itachi's plan to usurp his father right from under his feet, the better.

‘I… I can’t, Ino-pig,’ she answered. ‘I just can't risk it.’ 

I can’t risk anything happening to you. 

Sakura thought Ino would be mad, irritated that Sakura could harbour so many unshed secrets. But much to Sakura's relief, her best friend just gave her a weary smile.

‘Sure, Forehead. I understand. But whatever you've gotten yourself into, if it becomes too much to deal with, you can always let me in.’

Ino… Thank you. 

At times like these, Ino was the sister Sakura never had. It wasn't that she didn't trust Ino. But rather, she felt that if she spoke about it out loud – without Itachi's reassuring presence – the information would somehow be leaked and he would lose his advantage against his father. If word got out that Itachi was working against his clan, he would be stripped of all power, no longer in line for the position of Hokage.

The butterflies in Sakura's chest had begun to ebb away, and with a tired smile, she slid down the tree trunk and rested her head against her best friend’s shoulder. 

‘What would I do without you, Ino?’

‘Oh, you’d be hopeless without me, obviously,’ Ino scoffed. ‘But if that damn Uchiha causes any problems, just let me know and I'll pulverise him. It doesn’t matter how attractive he is.’

Sakura laughed dryly. ’That’s Sasuke-kun’s brother, you know. Stop making things weird.’

‘You can’t deny it. Even if he’s the enemy, he’s got the face of Adonis.’ Ino paused, humming pleasantly. ‘Not to mention that beautiful body.’

Sakura elbowed her in the ribs. ‘Stop! I don’t want to think about him that way.’

‘Too late, you’re already thinking about him.’ 

‘Shut up, Pig!’ 

There was still time before curfew, so for now, she could enjoy the quiet of the meadow. The sweetness of flowers lingered in the air, and above the canopy, swallows flocked in lines. With her head resting against Ino’s shoulder, the two simply enjoying the silence of the other’s company, Sakura realised that her headache had finally subsided. But more than that, she finally understood why she wished to stand by Itachi’s side.