Emerald Ties

Chapter 2

*Itachi's P.O.V*

I groaned as I looked at my brother's letter. I had completely forgotten to write to Sakura just to ease her mind. She knew I couldn't give her much about the mission or where I currently was, but I could at least let her know that I was okay and that I was safe and uninjured. She deserved at least that much from me.

'My love,

I apologize to you for not writing to you sooner. I bet you are a mess being worried about me. You deserve to know that I am alright. I can't give you much about the mission, but I can tell you that we are getting closer to ending this whole ordeal. Please stay safe for me while I am away. I want your face to be the first one I see when I come home to you. I am going to do everything I can to end this quickly. I know I don't say this enough to you and I should. I love you, Sakura.

Itachi.'

I smiled softly as I placed the letter on the foot of my hawk and watched it fly away. The letter should be in her hands by tomorrow morning.

"Itachi-san, we have scoped the building that Izumi told us that your father would be hiding out in. She was right, but it is heavily guarded. If we go head first, we will be more than just outnumbered. It would be suicide to go in with no plan."

I looked at the young ninja in front of me. He was highly inexperienced in these situations but he sure knew what he was talking about.

"We go in silently. We use the cover of night and the crush around us to our advantage. Do not let them hear you or see you or the mission will be ruined. If my father is alerted then he will surely flee. If you are spotted it could very well mean death for you and everyone around you. We will take out most of his men and then go after him. I want him to cry for help when we catch him only to learn that no one will be coming to help him." I said to the ninja.

"I know you are to inexperienced for battle and that could be detrimental to the team, so I want you to scout and be sure to alert us if something or someone gets to close to us. Do not attack anyone unless they mean to cause you harm." I said to him.

He nodded and exited my tent. Tomorrow night we would be heading for my father before he has a chance to get away. I want him to think he is able to move on and that is when we will swoop in and capture him.

*Sakura's P.O.V*

I groaned as the sunlight hit my face. I was surprised that I was even able to fall asleep last night at all. The bed felt lonely without Itachi lying in it beside me. The bed was to big for just me to be in it. I groaned yet again as I removed the covers from my body. I was still wearing the same clothes I had worn yesterday. I quickly headed into my closet and changed into a pair of black leggings and a long sweater and exited my bedroom. Sasuke stood in the kitchen, searching my cabinets for anything to eat.

"You won't find anything. I see no point in purchasing groceries when I can just as easily go and eat somewhere else. It is only me after all, no point in spending money on the house that only I stay in." I said as I sat down on the couch.

I didn't look at him after I spoke. I couldn't bear to see the frown that was on his face. I heard the cabinets shut and him taking steps towards me.

"You can't always just eat out, Sakura. It is not good for you. You should be taking better care of yourself. Come on, we will head to the store and buy some food for the house. I prefer to have something here in case I want to stay in and have dinner." Sasuke said with a soft smile.

*Sasuke's P.O.V*

I sighed as we headed towards the market area. I knew this was going to be hard for Sakura, but I never knew it was going to get this bad. She had basically given up on caring for herself with him gone. How would she handle missions that could leave her in her home alone for years at a time? Would she resort back to this shell of herself? I shook the thoughts from my brain as we approached the market.

"Go ahead and grab some stuff that you will need around the house. I will grab the food and meet you back here soon. Don't worry about the cost, I have it handled." I told her as I handed her some cash to get what she needed, "I talked to Tsunade last night and we both agree that you will be going back to work at the hospital on monday. You need something to take your mind off him being gone and I think this will be perfect for that."

I knew she was going to be upset with us for this. She had a right to decide how long she wanted to take away from her job, but she needed this. She needed something to occupy her mind right now. She could be mad all she wanted, it was not going to change anything.

  "I don't need either of you two to tell me how to occupy my mind. I will be fine soon. I am not a child and I do not have to do everything you say." Sakura said as she crossed her arms.

   I rolled my eyes at her and turned towards her.

  "I know you don't think I know what you need, but you are wrong. I have known you for a lot of years. You will be going back to work. It will help you keep your sanity." It told her, not giving her any wiggle room.

 *Sakura's P.O.V*

    I groaned as he left to finish shopping. In my heart I knew he was right. I needed something to keep my mind off of Itachi.

  I walked around the market a few times, being sure to pick up any items I knew that were needed at the house. I was worried about being alone in the open, but the market was crowded and that would make it hard for anyone to try to take me. Sasuke knew this or he would never have left me on my own.

   I smiled at the woman who rang me up and I handed her the money I owed. I grabbed the bags and headed back to where I was to meet Sasuke.

  *Unknown P.O.V*

   I smiled to myself as I noticed her alone. She had been heavily guarded the entire time I had been watching her. Unfortunately, there would be no way to snatch her now without being seen. There was no possible way to get to her now.

  I watched as she stood in one spot for quite some time. I knew she was waiting for her watch dog but I highly doubt he would be showing. I made sure there was a surprise waiting when he got to where he was going.

   *Itachi's P.O.V*

   I smirked to myself as I watched the men my dad had stationed circling the building. My men were right, there were ten times more of them than there was of us. I threw a single to my team to move in. They knew the plan was to be sneaky about the attacks. They were not to be seen or heard.

   I watched as they easily took down the men outside of the building. I had no complaints about my men, they all did their jobs flawlessly.

   "Is it safe to move in, captain?" Keisuke asked behind me.

   Keisuke Niachi was new to the team. Young, but had  more experience in battle than anyone else I knew. I watched as he adjusted his ponytail, his white hair flowing behind  his back. His red eyes reminded me of my own, but his never changed. I nodded to him and we all ran to the door.

   My excitement was getting the better of me. My father was just behind these doors. There were no noises that anyone could here, it  was eerie.

   Keisuke kicked the door in and was the first to move in. I ran in behind my men and waited as they search the building. I heard clear from every room.

   "He's not here. The back door, dammit, no one covered the back door. Did we even know there was one?" Keisuke asked as he paced the hallway.

  I growled and punched the wall beside me. Dammit! He was out of my grasps once again. Someone had topped him off about us coming, and I am sure I knew exactly who it was.