Strength

Disclaimer:I definitely do not own Naruto, all rights belong to Kishimoto and this is purely a fanbased story..

Author's note: Thank you for the kudo's! I appreciate it! <3

A couple changes to the storyline: Story takes place about 3.5 years after Naruto has left instead of something over 2yrs. Meaning that Sakura will almost be 17. So yes, Naruto will be away for a longer period of time. Some things will be changed but I’ll use some happenings as a centerpiece from shippuuden in regards to the storyline. If you have suggestions or tips on how to improve my writing, let me know.

So onwards with the story!

Chapter 3: Shaken, Stirred and hungover.

“..kura-chan, wake up..”‘Hmm…5 more minutes’ Sakura turned towards her alarm. Colliding into something warm and comfortable. Putting her arm around it and pulling herself closer she sighed contently. She hasn’t slept like this in a long time and being sleep deprived was a daily occurance due to her hospital shifts. If she wasn’t working she was away on missions. She barely had time to catch up on some sleep.

“I’m not a human pillow Sakura, wake up princess ”. ‘ Wait ..?!’ Opening her eyes, she stared at a broad well defined bare chest. ‘Oh my..’ Looking up tracing outlines of the well-defined chest and a very attractive face, she looked in the eyes of her new buntaichou. “R-Ryuu, what.. h-how ?!” Lying in her clutches was Ryuu, her body was squished against his side and his right arm was supporting her head. The last thing that Sakura could remember was that she was having drinks in the Shaker Brothers, how did she end up in this situation? When did she leave? What time is it? Puzzled and a headache surfacing while waking up, sakura tried to dig deep within the dark abyss called her memories. 

As if reading her mind, Ryuu grinned. Turning towards her and using his left hand to remove a strand of hair from her face, he said: “ Seeing your frazzled state, I can conclude that you don’t remember how you..-we ended up in this situation.” Sakura nodded, a blush adorning her face his gesture not lost on her and awaiting for an explanation that was soon to come. Ryuu continued, taking her silence as a sign to elaborate : “After you ordered us a bunch of daiquiri’s -very nice drink by the way- Yue wanted to stir things up and ordered another zombie for both of you, but with an extra kick to it. So basically the amount of rum was doubled. You both took off to the dance floor afterwards. She probably wanted to see you acting like the last time again..” She groaned. “Oh damn, don’t tell me I’ve tried to kiss strangers again.. I-?!” Sakura was horrified and looked away -planting it quite obviously in Ryuu's side, trying to hide her face in shame.. what did she do this time? Did she try to kiss strangers again? She just barely met them and already she made a fool out of herself..

Chuckling, Ryuu thought back to a couple hours ago. After Yue sneakily ordered her and Sakura a zombie, Hayato and Ryuu decided to hold off on the strong drinks both feeling quite intoxicated already. And..knowing the smug look on Yue's face, it told them she was in for a ruse and certainly wanted to see how wasted she could get Sakura. It was something she often tried with new temporary additions to the team and almost always succeeded. He sincerely hoped she would be a permanent addition and not temporary one. 

In Sakura’s case, it took a little bit longer and also a couple more drinks than most -meaning two extra zombies in her case- but it had the desired effect. Ryuu and Hayato followed the two of them to the dance floor to protect bystanders from the both of them. Yue always had a tendency to get really loud and challenge strangers to a drinking contest or clinging randomly to strangers. Everyone was her friend in her eyes, the more the merrier. But Sakura.. Ryuu could tell her character changed into the polar opposite of daily life Sakura, her temper excluded. She changed into a flirty social monster, all due to those demon spawns of a drink. Ryuu decided then and there that -If she decides to join team Kage- He’ll be making sure that she doesn’t drink more than one zombie during their after mission outings, it would be the death of him. 

All it took was one look at Hayato, knowing they had an unspoken agreement to make sure that Yue and Sakura were limited on those drinks. Yue succeeded in ensnaring a civilian boy into a drinking contest. It was interesting to see how the poor guy tried to escape her chokehold grip after downing a shot. Didn’t take him long to pass out inebriated, Hayato being the one to sign to one of the guy’s civilian companions, shoving the guy towards them so that they could bring him home. 

Seeing Yue far gone and dancing with Sakura, seeing she lost interest after the poor guy passed out, Hayato took it upon himself to catch Yue and see her home. Ryuu was quite sure that Hayato ended up at Yue’s place afterwards, it was a common occurrence. And he was wondering when they’ll finally upgrade their status as friends-with-benefits to an actual relationship. They’ve tried to keep it a secret from him, not wanting to further complicate their teambond. But he couldn’t care less. It wasn’t hard to guess that there was more to them and he knew that their onsen trip after a rather difficult mission was when their friendship changed. He noticed the subtle touches and hushed conversations between them. After they left, Ryuu took it upon himself to make sure Sakura got back home safely.

What he didn’t expect though was her inebriated state, even though he could’ve learned from the last time, that she was hellbent again on kissing him. After he -once again- turned someone down who had her eyes on him, he tried to reach Sakura. It turned out to be a challenge seeing she had many guys ogling her and were blocking him in his path. He reached her with a bit of difficulty. She turned to him after he managed to grab her arm. The look on her face was adorable and overjoyed to see him and jumped in his arms while saying his name. ‘ Ryuu! I hawf mwissed you!~’ The slurred speech told him enough and it didn’t take her long to pull him to the dance floor. He relented, giving her a song or 2, maybe 3 in which they danced together. 

He couldn’t quite remember how long they danced since he was quite tipsy, the effects of the 1st zombie and the daiquiri’s not lost on him. Luckily he wasn't that wasted or it would’ve been a problem in making sure she got home safe. 

Ryuu looked at Sakura while thinking back. It was quite..sensual and it drove him mad. This woman was a divine dancer. The way her hips swayed to his while they moved to the music, his arms around her waist guiding her throughout the mass while they danced and the way her lips felt on his when she kissed him.. ‘Ah, better not tell her that’ .
Seeing Sakura mortified thinking she went on a kissing spree just like last time he decided to keep this for himself. “After Yue gave you your drink… you guys went to the dance floor after you practically inhaled that drink. It was latin night, you were saying something about your favorite song and so she dragged you there. Hayato decided to take Yue home after she challenged a civilian to a drinking contest. I decided to stick around to make sure you got home safe and well here we are.” Sakura nodded, hearing Ryuu explaining. “Hope I wasn’t a lot of trouble for you..Ryuu-san”. Looking at Sakura, he answered her: “Don’t worry, I could get to you in time before you decided to go on your kissing spree. The kamis will thank me for that, those poor unfortunate people..- ow, woman, please keep in mind that you have insane strength, my poor chest” Noticing Ryuu teasing her, Sakura swatted his chest and turned away. “Still doesn’t explain how we ended up like this though…” Ryuu chuckled, pulling her to him and ruffling her hair. “Somewhere along the way, you passed out and I carried you here. When I tried to put you in bed, you grabbed onto my shirt and pulled me in your deathgrip. I’ve tried to loosen your hold on me but you were persistent and kept holding onto me. So I got comfortable, initially planning to wait until you let go. As you’ve noticed by now, that didn’t happen..” 

Ryuu broke eye contact with Sakura and looked at the clock and noticed that they were running late. ”Come on, we need to get ready. We need to head to Tsunade and make a short stop on the way as well” Pulling away from her, he got up and looked at her holding his hand for her to take. Sakura looked at a very muscular still bare chested Ryuu and grabbed his hand. Ryuu pulled her from the bed, luckily she had a queen sized bed it would be troublesome but cosy with the two of them fitting in her bed after the events of last night. Feeling her head pounding as Ryuu pulled her from her bed she put her hand on her forehead, pushing some healing chakra in it to lessen the pain. “Stopping where? Want to take a shower before we leave, you can take one first if you like?” Sensing that Ryuu wanted to leave together, she turned her back to him. 

Walking to her closet, she grabbed her black shorts and a short red off-shoulder tight fitted dress with a slit on the right side and her weapons pouch, looking back at Ryuu she gave him a pointed look “If it’s ok.., are you alright with waiting a little? I really need to take a quick shower”.
Ryuu shook his head, putting on his blouse. “Go, we’ll be stopping at my place first before heading to Tsunade-sama. I’ll take a shower there, I need to change into my gear as well.”
Sakura nodded and smiled at him, throwing him a small towel. “At least freshen up, there’s a spare bathroom on your left. It looked like those drinks also had quite an effect on you. How long do we have?”

“About an hour. Maybe 1,5…” Looking at the clock, Ryuu held his head. It was pounding, which was a first. Seeing a hand enter his vision, he turned his head towards Sakura. Giving her a questionable look, she smiled and her hand turned green making him lean into her touch closing his eyes in relief. “Keep still for a moment, I can lessen the pain for you, the perks of waking up with a hangover with a medic nin next to you.”
Noticing his pain lessening, Sakura pulled her hand away and made her way to the bathroom.

“Thanks, Saku-chan”. Ryuu smiled at her, before making his way to the spare bathroom as well.

It took Ryuu less time to get ready and went to the living room to wait for her there. Looking around the quite spacious apartment. He walked to the large chinese- style bookcase. It said a lot about her interests. Besides medical books and scrolls, it was filled with history books of different areas, from Suna to Ame and also about their politics but he could also find books about their myths and legends. Keeping some of the shelves empty where she placed photos of her and her friends and a very parched looking plant. No green fingers…  

Looking at one shelf in particular he noticed a photo of Sakura with a red haired man with emerald eyes, standing behind her and pulling her in a hug. ‘Her brother?’ Both smiling and looking at each other. Besides that photo he noticed another one. Recognizing two persons on it, Sakura and Kakashi. Sakura was standing in the middle, on the right (and to her left) he saw a blonde guy and on the left a dark haired guy. ‘I’m guessingthat this would be the Uchiha-kid and Uzumaki. What a bunch..’ Both were glaring at each other and Kakashi had his hand on each of their heads. It was in a way quite a dynamic sight. Sakura and Kakashi smiling. The photo showed the rivalry between those two boys. Even though Sakura was standing in the middle, he could see that she was the oddball out of the 4. It looked like a team, but something about the photo made him think that their bond felt…incomplete. He guessed that was only confirmed after the Uchiha-kid and Naruto left to train with the other two Sannin. One of them he was quite judgemental about, so easily influenced by the need for revenge and hatred even though he didn’t know half of the sacrifices of the other party.

Ryuu guessed that the rivalry between those two was the driving force between their dynamics. Kakashi told him that they both tried to outbest each other. They always went all out, jumping straight into the fray to fight. Sakura often stayed behind to guard their client or it was them shielding her, Kakashi included. He had heard about the mission to the land of Waves after he just joined anbu, where team 7 ran into Zabuza and Haku. What was supposed to be a C-rank actually was an A-rank, if the sandaime had known he would never even think about sending the just graduated genin team 7. Luckily they had Kakashi with them and also the Uchiha-kid activated his sharingan. Shortly after this mission they were signed up for the Chuunin-exam. Here was where the power rift between the team started to get bigger. They got attacked by Orochimaru and he gave his cursed mark to the Uchiha. Ryuu heard that the Uchiha kid protected Sakura, even getting revenge for hurting her. Rumors were that the kid was starting to get feelings for her, according to Kakashi at least. She got stronger as well, which showed after she tied with Yamanaka Ino during the exam who graduated as the strongest kunoichi of that year (showing her rapid growth as the one who was physically the weakest at the time of graduating as a genin), but the Uzumaki and Uchiha kid grew all the more and faster than Sakura.

He could only conclude that Sakura had all odds against her, as one of the few genin having a civilian background. He was simply amazed with her talent and her hard work. Both the Uzumaki and Uchiha and even Hatake came from honorable and powerful clans. With the Uchiha as one of the strongest besides the Senju-clan. That Naruto kid didn’t even know his lineage, Yondaime's son, a jinchuuriki and an Uzumaki. Both of them were a force to be reckoned with. 

From the beginning Sakura had her work cut out for her. He was glad that she decided to train under Tsunade. She even managed to obtain the Byakugou right after she made jounin. Only Tsunade and her managed to obtain this seal, it could only be done through discipline and perfect control of one’s chakra. He couldn’t wait to see the look on those two’s faces when -or if they returned to Konoha at one point. The Uchiha would probably be brought back in chains though seeing as he went rogue and betrayed the village in joining Orochimaru. 

Having had enough of the bookcase and the slight and annoyingly growing frustration that he felt after looking at the teamphoto, he walked to the kitchen. He scanned the counter, looking for a coffee machine ‘ Aha, there it is!’ Seeing a espressomachine and deciding to help himself, he made himself a cup of coffee and for Sakura as well, hearing the shower being turned off. Giving her time to get ready he sat on the sofa, placing her cup of coffee on the salontable, he looked outside. It was still early but seeing that they needed to leave later that day, which is why they were called into the hokage’s office in the morning. Ryuu had a hunch that Tsunade wanted to know how yesterday went, to check the team dynamics with Sakura joining them. Even he had to admit, it went better than even he could have imagined. He had a hunch that she would fit in, but he didn’t expect that he would warm up to her to this extent. She was a match made in heaven for his team and he could tell that Yue and Hayato adored her as well. Ryuu had noticed that Sakura was reluctant in accepting the offer and he couldn’t blame her at all. Honestly, he himself would’ve been as well, understanding that she had walls built up around her after those two left her and with Kakashi not daring to even try to reach out to her. Team 7..’ They’re all fools for leaving her’.

“Sorry to keep you waiting fo- Ryuu..Are you ok?” Sakura walked to the living room, she kept him waiting for a longer period than she wished for. Intending on apologizing first but sensing that Ryuu was deep in thought seeing the pensive expression on his face, she felt worried. Her question pulled Ryuu from his thoughts and he looked up to see Sakura looking at him with a worried expression, dressed in her ninja gear. Her short red dress, with shorts underneath with a kunai holster on her right leg, weapons pouch on her back and black ninja boots reaching mid thigh and with a small heel. He couldn’t resist eyeing her. She grew up to be a very beautiful woman. 

Beckoning for her to sit, he grabbed her cup of coffee from the table and gave it to her. “I figured you could use a cup. Hope you don’t mind me helping myself and making myself at home. It’s a lovely place” In hope of deflecting her question, he diverted the conversation by offering her cup to her and changed the subject. Sakura took the cup from his hand and gave him a grateful smile “No, I don’t mind it..at all. Thanks for the coffee, it’s a lifesaver. I’m feeling a bit drained after last night.”

She sat down next to him and a comfortable silence fell between them. Both silently agreed to take their time to drink their coffee first before heading to Ryuu’s place, making no movement to rush the other in finishing it quickly and thinking that Tsunade could wait, if only for a little.

Meanwhile in the hokage tower, Kakashi was talking with Tsunade and the elders. He was so done with those meddling old farts. He could tell Tsunade was frustrated as well. They’ve called him in regarding a certain pink haired jounin and their choice regarding this mission. After team Kage requested her for this mission, they both agreed immediately - having no second thoughts, thinking that Sakura would be a perfect addition. But these farts, after hearing the news, requested a meeting as soon as it was made known that Sakura was asked to join them. He sighed. It was way too early for this. They specifically waited with letting them know to give them less time to attempt to stop it. 
“You can’t place a random civilian kunoichi in one of the strongest Anbu-” Danzo was interrupted by Kakashi.

“With all due respect Danzo-sama, my student is more than capable for this mission and she isn’t a random kunoichi. .” Kakashi seethed, he couldn't listen to them any longer. He knew why Sakura was chosen for this mission and he had a clue that they knew that as well. She was one of the few who had Tsunade’s full trust and with sensitive information at risk, she wanted to be sure that it didn’t end up in the wrong hands, clearly referring to the Elders.  Tsunada needed someone trustworthy from her inner circle with a great skillset, ready and capable to defend themselves succesfully in case the team was to be attacked during the mission and Sakura was the obvious choice. Not only in the eyes of Tsunade, but Kakashi and team Kage thought so as well.  “As someone who was and is part of team 7 as their Jounin and as one who is familiar with team Kage, I can vouch for my student. She has certainly proven herself to be quite a force to be reckoned with.” Both Tsunade and Kakashi expected resistance from the Elders but not to this extent, for all three of them to show up around 6 in the morning, just hours away from the mission in an attempt to pull her out of the mission.

Kakashi felt the glare of Danzo, Homura and Koharu. Koharu turned to Tsunade, giving Kakashi a side-eye. “She’s barely a Jounin, to go on this mission, it’s S-rank, she’s needed in the hospital. As a medic-.” Tsunade sighed. “I know well enough when Sakura is needed in the hospital, don’t forget she’s also a kunoichi trained by me . Don’t forget what I’m capable of, you don’t think I would leave my apprentice defenseless when it comes to combat. You don’t think I’ve left it at medical ninjutsu only when training her.” “Tsunade, we request you to reconsider, send another. Danzo has someone in mind who can go in her place. For all we know, knowing her family’s history and the risk of sending her…” Holding up her hand to stop them from talking, Tsunade stood up. “-enough. My decision is final. My - our student, will be joining team Kage for this mission”.
Kakashi looked at Tsunade as she stood up. What did they mean? Her family’s history? Putting the thought aside to ask Tsunade later, Kakashi felt the tension in the room rising to new heights. Tsunade and Danzo always stayed civilized, but he wasn’t sure today they would as well. He couldn’t blame Tsunade, he was annoyed as well. And like Tsunade, Sakura was a sensitive subject, they both would go to the ends of the world for her if necessary. Kakashi all the more so, he owed it to Sakura.

Danzo was livid, also standing up to face Tsunade. “N-NONSENSE,she’s your apprentice but she isn’t ANBU. Hatake hasn’t even seen her these last few years, so tell me how can he vouch for his student?! Both of her other teammates, the Uchiha-brat and that jinchuriki have left for other teachers, one of them is that treacherous teammate of yours Tsunade. Even they thought she wasn’t WORTH their time! ”

“I suggest you stop, Danzo-sama.” Kakashi stepped in front of him, seething, looking at him dead in the eyes. He was so done with this. “ Yes, it’s a fact that I’ve neglected Sakura and I’ll always bear this burden with me and I regret it dearly. Also..Yes, I haven’t seen it yet how far she has come. But I’ve kept tabs on her during my years of absence in her life as her sensei. Also, I trust our Godaime, she’s her apprentice and from what I’ve heard, she’s surpassed Shizune and the hokage herself. If I may, then I can say with certainty that all of team 7 have misjudged her tremendously in regards to her capabilities. She’s strong, it is team Kage herself who requested her. Yes, she comes from a civilian family but..she’s become a jounin within 3.5years, just a year after she became a chuunin. So I suggest you simmer down with you insults towards Sakura.'' 

Hearing Kakashi speak, Tsunade smiled openly showing relief at his support. “I agree with Hatake on this matter. As my apprentice and even though she’s a medic, she is also trained to fight on the front lines. Do not underestimate her. Now this discussion is finished. You will NOT change my mind, now leave and stop wasting our time...” 

“Make yourself at home, Sakura. I’ll be done soon”. Sakura nodded, seeing him walk towards one of the 4 doors in the hallway. “Please take your time, Ryuu-kun.” After enjoying a peaceful moment together with a rather tasteful cup of coffee, Ryuu and Sakura made their way towards his apartment. Sakura looked around, it was a decent sized three bedroom apartment and a pretty nice living room. One thing that she noticed straight away was his kitchen, it was divine. He had a bar, a freaking bar and a massive fridge. And behind that was a fairly sized kitchen island with a stove. ‘Didn’t expect that..’ She turned around to look at the living area. The first thing she noticed was a nice decent sofa lounge and a nice coffee table. Across from it was another sofa facing the table which stood in front of a massive bookcase covering the whole wall. Sakura was in awe, she noticed a couple medical scrolls and books but most of it was all about ninjutsu, taijutsu and a lot of cookbooks. That explained the well equipped kitchen. She pulled a cocktail recipe book from its shelf and went to sit on the sofa. Scanning through it, she couldn’t resist, this book was on her wishlist and everytime she went to the bookstore it was always sold out and it kept her busy while waiting for Ryuu.

In the master bedroom, Ryuu just got out of the shower, his thoughts drifting to last night and this morning. Cheeks flushed, he put on his mission gear. Grabbing his backpack, he sat down on his bed, elbows on his leg with his left hand supporting his head. It was a night that he would remember for quite some time, while it wasn’t his first time waking up next to a woman, a phase he has long put behind him and he always made sure that it happened on missions if they were able to relax and he usually was drunk, it was never someone from within the city walls.. It was his first time waking up next to someone, partially clothed and in Sakura’s case fully clothed. But that wasn’t the thing that was the most vivid from his intoxicated memories. It was her soft and plump lips on his own and the feel of her curves against his body and how it fit so perfectly in his embrace while they danced. Sighing, he put his hands in his head. ‘I’ve barely got to know her personally, we kissed, and woke up in her bed after she passed out and the damn woman doesn’t even remember’. It’s been quite some time since he had this much temptation that even the thought of last night made him take a cold shower and he started to think that this woman was a siren. He noticed that Sakura just fit in perfectly within his team and he was sure that even Yue and Hayato noticed that the two of them clicked naturally. They made sure that he knew that they knew. Escaping together and leaving him behind with her. He was never the type to show his playful flirty side that soon, even with his one night stands.. Flirty? Yes, but not playful, more stoic. It was an outlet for him during his missions, the three of them had it rough during that time. Yue and Hayato found it with each other. He found his distraction with civilians, as long as he didn’t feel he was fine. Yes, there were some that wanted more afterwards but he always warned them and always made sure to use protection.. It would be one time only, if they tried to pursue more he would ignore their advances how persistent they could be. He just wanted to disconnect. Letting out a deep sigh, Ryuu stood up. He kept his pink haired siren waiting for long enough. 

Sakura stood up from the couch and put it back in its rightful place, she wanted this book. Ryuu took his time, giving her the chance to comfortably take a look at the book. Already memorizing a couple recipes for a long overdue girls night with the girls. “You know I can actually sense you creeping up on me..” Feeling a presence behind her. “But, that aside.. You shouldn’t enter uninvited in someone else’s home.” “... You …should be more guarded, Haruno-san”.She turned around. Not recognizing the voice but the figure clearly knowing who she is. Standing in front of the large open windows - she swore they were closed a minute before- she couldn’t make out his face due to the light behind him. But the first thing that stood out were his eyes. “ Red eyes..tomoes?! Sh-Sharingan, how?! Sas-...Wait no-” “Uchiha…I-Itachi?”

The man flickered in front of her after hearing the name, showing his face and confirming his identity to her. Looking down at her, red eyes turning black but still keeping his distance. He nodded. Sakura kept his gaze, hand ready on her kunai holster. “I do not mean any harm to you kunoichi”. “Then, what made you enter the city walls Uchiha-san? Haven’t you heard? Your brother isn’t here, hasn’t been for over 3 years.. He’s been busy training with that snake in order to avenge his clan and if you’re in search of Naruto.. Don’t expect me to tell you, because I don’t know .” Sakura seethed. Watching Itachi step closer. She backed up, her back against the bookcase. Cursing silently, noticing him stop not even a foot away, his right arm placed next to her head, looking at her for a minute skeptically one of his eyebrows raised. “I didn’t come here for them. I came here for you.” He lowered his face a little..before speaking “I acquire your assistance, Haruno..Though it appears for now, I should explain another time.. ” She felt him putting something in her kunai holster before he jumped back, barely avoiding a kunai aimed at his face, red eyes ablaze again and catching the kunai.. “Get behind me Sakura”. Looking at the third presence flickering in front of Sakura, partially shielding her. It was only then that she registered that it was Ryuu, stepping closer towards him and welcoming the protection he provided. Itachi paid him no mind, not even bothered with Ryuu's presence before focussing back on the pink haired kunoichi. “Haruno..” Sakura looked up straight into spinning red eyes hearing her name being mentioned. “ Shit -?!” Feeling her get pulled into a genjutsu, she tried to flare up her chakra in order to counteract it and closing her eyes in an attempt to avoid the red eyes and resist the strong pull to just slip into Itachi's genjutsu. But it was no use. Sakura felt her consciousness clinging on for dear life to stay out of the genjutsu, even if she has a tolerance and was almost immune to it.. Itachi’s skillset was ruthless and she was no match for him.

“Those petty basic tricks will not counter my genjutsu kunoichi, look at me ..” The demand made her open her eyes. Feeling herself lose control over her body, Sakura couldn’t resist, she couldn’t control her movements..eyes widening before looking once more at the black haired man standing in front of her, she noticed the uncanny resemblance to her teammate before losing grip and succumbing to the genjutsu. Feeling a pang in her heart at the memory of her teammate, she held back her tears. Looking at him she could only ask him why, why he put her in a genjutsu, why he came for her… But also a hidden question, not limited to the genjutsu but for her midnight blue haired teammate. ‘ Why..why did he decide to decimate his entire clan?’ Itachi listened to her rant. Not moving an inch and not saying anything else but letting her let it all out. Not taking control of her body even once. Watching her tears fall freely from her face.

“Haruno” Ryuu looked at Itachi as he focussed his eyes on Sakura addressing her, red eyes ablaze and his tomoes spinning before hearing a gasp behind him. Realizing what was happening as she flared her chakra, he spinned around barely catching Sakura’s limp body and easing her to the ground as she fell on her knees, slumping to the ground, her eyes void of emotions and eyes fixed upon the Uchiha succumbing to the sharingan. Noticing the telltale signs of a genjutsu, he tried to undo it with his chakra holding her against him protectively. “I just told that women as well ANBU-san, those tricks won’t work.” Ryuu gritted his teeth. After walking out of his room, he felt a presence in his living room that didn’t belong to Sakura. But it belonged to someone he knows all too well. Rushing to her side, he heard him speak to his pink haired teammate. Not liking the distance between them, he threw a kunai at the man and jumped in front of her. “You took quite a risk in coming here, Uchiha. What do you want with her?”

“You’re quite protective of her.” Itachi stated. Evading his question, Itachi looked at the pink haired woman lying in the silver haired man's arms before continuing “...and why I’m here, that’s only for her to know.”

“W-why?!” Both men looked at Sakura hearing her speak, tears staining her face. Feeling her tremble in his grasp, Ryuu pulled Sakura closer. Anger seeped through his composure. Enraged, he addressed Itachi “ What have you done with her Uchiha ?!” Ryuu was livid, the man entered his house with ease even though he had protective seals put up to prevent unwanted visitors from entering and this man entered with ease, putting his prospective teammate in a genjutsu, making her cry. He felt the pain in her question, he could only assume the meaning behind it. He could only guess, but the pain that was seeping through.. he could only think of one situation that would make her ask a question with so much pain behind it. A blue haired boy came into his mind almost immediately. Right then and there he decided that if he ever comes across that blue-haired Uchiha.. He’d make him pay for hurting her. Those damned Uchihas. It’s like she was a magnet for everything regarding that clan. His thoughts were disrupted by Itachi, who answered his question.

“I just have a message for her ANBU-san, only for her”. As soon as he finished his sentence, he vanished in a puff of smoke. Leaving no trace of his presence. 

“God damnit..” Having Sakura in his arms he could only watch and keep her close as tears stained her face, waiting for her to awake from the Uchiha’s genjutsu.