Shades of Grey

Chapter 74

"What are Tobi's abilities?" Sakura asked as she ran through the trees with her team.

"To run really fucking fast." Hidan laughed in reply. When he saw the kunoichi raise a brow at him he continued. "All that I have ever seen that chicken shit bastard do is run away."

"He is kind of special too." Kisame told her.

"Special?" Sakura questioned.

"Shit he isn't special; he is downright slow." Hidan laughed out. "Always runs around chasing after Deidara with his arms flailing around in the air. Then the minute that things get a little bit ugly he runs away."

Sakura looked at Itachi. Surely, they were not going to hunt down a mentally challenged shinobi and kill him.

"He will flee once the battle begins." Itachi assured her. After he sent a distasteful look at Hidan he decided to speak further. "And you may not keep him."

"I would not try to keep him." Sakura defended.

"Could have fooled me." Kisame grumbled. "Seems to me you like strays."

"Hey, are you talking about me?" Hidan almost yelled. "I ain't some fucking stray dog you know."

Just then the clouds that had been hanging over them all day broke and began pouring on them.

"There is a village ahead." Hidan told them. "As a matter of fact, I am pretty sure Deidara and Tobi will have to stop there on their way out of Lightening. You know how he always goes overboard and has to restock on clay. I've been with him to that village it has an art supply store he likes."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Kisame said as they pushed harder hoping to soon find a place where they could get out of the weather.

"Hn." Itachi refused to verbally acknowledge the vile creature had a good idea.

Finally, relief was in sight a light from the village began to shine through the dense rain. The four companions were relieved when they stepped into the lobby of a decent looking inn. Itachi was quick to rent three rooms knowing that Kisame would refuse to board with Hidan. They made their way to their rooms to get out of their wet clothes agreeing to meet up later to further discuss their plans.

Itachi followed Sakura into their room and patiently waited while she went to change out of her soaked clothes. Once he had done the same, he joined her on the bed where she had wrapped herself in a blanket trying to regain the warmth the rain had stolen away. He pulled her close to provide her small shaking frame what he comforts he could.

"When we face Deidara he is mine." Itachi whispered his breath ghosting over her ear.

"We are a team." Sakura reminded him. "We fight together."

"I have a lesson to teach him." He insisted.

"What would that be?" The kunoichi asked.

"He shall learn that no one touches what is mine." Itachi declared as he wrapped his arms even tighter around her. She found it hard to tell in that moment who was comforting whom.

Sakura almost smiled at that. Itachi Uchiha loved her and as possessive as the statement sounded it touched her. If anyone was to ever harm him she would feel the same way. She already wanted to rip Danzo's head off for sins committed against her lover before she had ever even laid eyes on him. They truly did belong to each other now and forever. She nuzzled closer to him finally beginning to feel warm.

"Are you afraid?" He asked after she remained silent. He had known better than to ask her before as he would not have got a truthful answer in front of their companions, but he hoped that here with only him she would be more open.

"I am a little nervous." She admitted as she sighed.

"I will not let him touch you." The Uchiha promised.

"He said things." Sakura's voice sounded distant.

"What sort of things?" Itachi wasn't entirely certain that he wanted to know, but if she needed to speak of it, he would bear it.

"He told me that after he was done you would never want to touch me, to look at me again." She nearly whispered.

"Which is obviously wrong." He turned her with the upmost gentleness and kissed her on her head.

"But what if he, what if he tells you things and you change your mind?" Her voice shook as she recalled the many sordid details that the artist could reveal.

"Nothing will ever change my mind." Itachi assured her and drew her close as her small frame began to shake with her silent tears.

He would make Deidara pay for each tear that fell from her eyes. The artist would suffer a thousand years' worth of misery for each smile that he had missed since she had been back at his side. The fear he saw in her eyes enraged him and he would ensure there was hell to pay.