Chapter 2 -
"Weak... weak... weak... weak" Sakura chanted, unevenly, inbetween heavy breaths.
With every utterence she kicked another tree, punched another crater into the stead of the ground.
As if punishing herself, the word she spoke seemed to motivate her.
It wasn't a good type of motivation though, similar to that which drove Sasuke.
Sakura lifted her head slightly.
"You can come out now, I know you've been watching me." Sakura told a tree.
'Damn, she sensed me?'
"I'm gunna give it to you straight Itachi-san You can have the kyuubi for all I care, but he wouldn't take me for bait, and why don't you kill your little brother while you're at it. If you don't feel challenged after that, The imfamous Copy-nin deserves a good beating."
"From the looks of what I imagine was once a forest, here, you could probably give a better beating than I, kunoichi."
"I'm far too weak." She replied, with her beautiful smile.
Within an instant he stood behind her.
"Weak are you? What is your name." He asked softly.
"Sakura Haruno."
"You know who I am?"
"Yes Itachi-san."
"You know Sakura-chan, you're one of the first people in my life to not fear me."
"I don't care if I die. It's not as if i've got something to live for." She laughed.
"Then what of torture? You do not fear pain?"
"Why would you torture me, anything i have that you want, i'll give it to you."
"Anything?"
"Yes Itachi-san."
"You shouldn't ever say that Sakura-chan. A lesson one often learns the hard way."
She laughed again."I suppose you're right."
"Is your face stuck that way? Or do you just chose to creep me out?"
"I've no idea what you mean."
"Why smile and laugh when on the inside you feel like sh.t?"
"How exactly do you figure that Itachi-san?"
"Your eratic chakra. As divinely beautiful as it is, it bounds like that of someone with the intent to kill. And yet, at the very same time, it sulks in the way that is broken, and dances in a way that is afraid. You do fear me, and death."
"Well well, an Uchiha prodigy, of course. you're the only one in the world who can really understand my true feelings. Ironic ne?"
"And what of my little brother. He has the sharingan too."
"Yes but I get the feeling that he doesnt view chakra like it's a life-force or an energy. I imagine he sees only power in the face of one's chakra."
"Drop the mask. I mean why wear it if I alread know how you feel."
"None the less, a ninja never shows their emotions."
"You said you'd give me anything. All I want is to see what you look like when you're human."
They stood silently.
Itachi flashed infront of her and held up her chin in a way that shifted the shield of pink bangs.
She gazed up into his deep crimson eyes.
Her face was finally readable.
Itachi almost flinched.
The agony of her eyes were far more powerful than that which one can see in chakra patterns.
"Are you lonely?" He asked sympathetically, raising a hand up her arm and caressing her cheek with his thumb tenderly.
Before time could stop, Sakura had flung forward into an embrace she so badly needed.
And in the destroyed forest, deserted by all, he held her tightly, comforting them both.
"How could someone so beautiful and strong as you Sakura-chan, be so lonely."
"I could ask you the same thing. But i'm weak, remember?"
"Look into my eyes."
"Uh."
"Just do it."
She looked into his sharingan as the tomoe bagan to swirl and Sakura could see the forest from where Itachi had been.
The ground was thoroughly destroyed as was every tree , deformed or dead on every account.
Suddenly she was back in his arms.
"That's what I saw when I first got here. You can't honestly tell me you call that weak?"
"Well, everyone else does. My own sensei refuse to train me afterall"
"I could train you."
"You're not serious. I can't just start training with an S-class criminal."
"I'll hand myself in if it'l make a diference."
"Really?"
"You really are strong Sakura, you can't let your only weakness be what others think."
"Then we'll visit Tsunade in the morning. You'll need a place to stay. Come home with me?" She looked up, almost pleading.
"Sakura-chan, you aren't alone anymore. But i'll come and stay for the duration of your training..."
"What is it?"
"I need to check in with Akatsuki to let them know that I'm leaving the organisation."
He leapt into a tree and had almost disappeared when an arm grabbed his.
"Promise you'll come back!" She cried desperately.
"You're so beautiful when you cry..." He said and wit
