Shades of Grey

Chapter 29

Morning had arrived, but Itachi's anger had yet to abate. He had spent the whole night allowing himself to simmer. How dare the kunoichi presume to pity him? How could she stare unflinchingly into his eyes? Was she too foolish to see the danger she put herself in? Did she forget that it was his job to hand her on a silver platter to Akatsuki? Was she truly so ignorant as to try to forget all the blood spilled by his hands?

No, he knew that she had not, and that made it even worse. The foolish girl knew firsthand what kind of an animal he was, and yet she still tried to reach out to him. She had even indirectly been one of his victims. He knew how deeply she had cared for her team and his sins had been what tore them apart. She knew that it was his duty to turn her in; that her blood would eventually coat his hands.

He was sure that were he not already damned to hell that when he betrayed her, he would no doubt be. This game, as she had called it, would have to come to an end. Just as his clansmen had lain in destruction at his feet so too would she. Yet still her misguided sense of honor led her to try to heal him.

Finally, Itachi rose from his bed and made his way downstairs. He was unsurprised, but still disappointed, to see the other occupants of the house still there. The tension in the room was so thick that he could physically feel it in the air.

"You sure slept late." Kisame spoke up in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere.

"Hn." Was the Uchiha's only reply.

"Well I guess I will go cut some more firewood." The shark nin knew his effort had failed.

"Allow me." Sakura loudly pushed her chair back and slammed the door with her departure.

The two partners of many years set and ate in silence. Suddenly a loud boom was heard and the whole house seemed to shake.

"Alright, what's wrong with her?" Kisame finally asked.

"She does not fear me." Itachi supplied.

"Which of course is a bad thing?" Sometimes the larger man still could not understand the Uchiha's mind.

"She should." Itachi bit back. "She is well aware that it is my mission to give her to Akatsuki. I have never failed a mission."

"Oh that." Kisame chuckled as he stood up and placed Samehada on his back. "She just knows something you don't."

"Explain." Itachi demanded.

"She knows that you won't hurt her." The large man replied while walking towards the door. "I'd even bet that you wouldn't let anyone else harm a hair on her head either."

Sakura was furious. She had tried to reach out to the Uchiha, and he tried to scare her away. He should realize by now that she was stubborn. That little eye trick, as Kisame called it, was not going to do the trick this time. He was just a damn jerk, she fumed as she hit another tree with a chakra infused punch. She felt a primal thrill watching it fall to the ground.

"You know we don't need firewood, right?" Kisame asked as he walked into the clearing that the kunoichi created.

"Would you rather I punch you?" She let chakra flood to her fist.

"Nope." He laughed. "I don't suppose that I would. What's the matter kid?"

"Your partner." She ground out and let her fist fly again.

"Care to explain?" Kisame prodded.

"I told him that he wasn't a monster, so he decided to act like an ass." The kunoichi finally turned to face him.