Sakura looked around panting. There was blood everywhere. All her friends were dead, their battered corpses scattered all over the small forest clearing. Naruto, Kakashi, Sai...they all are at peace now... How...how could this happen? Despite all the training they went through, all the hard work, tears and dreams they shared... they could not stay alive. "How is this possible?" Sakura thought. "Just yesterday we were alive and full of happiness and hopes for tomorrow. We thought we will succeed, we were sure we will find Sasuke and defeat Akatsuki. There was meant to be happiness for us, not death." Sakura looked at at Naruto's face. It looked so peaceful and relaxed, if his head was still attached to his body, one could think that he is just sleeping...

- "You fool!" -Itachi said to Kakuzu "The one you just blew up was the Jinchuuriki we came here for". Kakuzu looked at Naruto's corpse with wide eyes.

- "I better start praying, our leader will punish Kakuzu and me for sure" - said Hidan and quietly started chanting some mantras.

- "Hmmm... We have 8 out of 9. Thats not that bad. Im sure our leader will not kill you. However, be prepared for anything."- Itachi said calmly. "Also"-he added " You better head back now and report to him, I'll take care of the girl". As soon as Itachi finished talking Hidan and Kakuzu disappeared in a flash.

Sakura looked at Itachi. This man was absolutely unreadable. The expression on his face never changed and his voice stayed just as calm, like nothing happened, like there was no dead corpses lying around. "Is...is he human?"-thought Sakura. Even Orochimaru would express some kind of emotions while fighting...But this man, Itachi, was absolutely stoic. Sakura felt her knees shaking and her legs felt weak. What would happen now? Unlike the battle with Sasori when she felt very scared and had a brush with death, at this moment she was terrified. She knew she has no chance against this man, this time Sakura was sure that she will die. Never in her life she felt so utterly hopeless, powerless and scared. "I-I don't want to die...Not yet, not untill I save Sasuke and avenge my friends..."-thought Sakura. Sakura looked at Itachi who was staring at her with the same, unreadable look on his face, sharingans activated. "Is he... hestating? Why, why haven't he moved yet?"- Sakura wondered. No, she could not plead for mercy. She knew she stands no chance against him, but she will not go down withought a fight. She will die just as her firends did... fighting and giving it their all.

-"You... You killed people I loved! You are the reason Sasuke left. I hate yo..." Sakura felt a painful hit which sent her flying couple of metres back. She landed with a loud thup. "Aaaaaagggrrrrhhhhh..." the pain was excruciating, she was surprised she was still concious. How much more can her battered body take before she dies..." When... when did he move? I couldnt even see him move... Gosh...am I that hopeless?" -Tears ran down her cheeks. She saw Itachi appearing by her side and staring down at her.

He stepped at her chest pushing her deeper into the dirt. Itachi eyed her body. He saw her before but never actually touched her or talked to her. Yet, she was the one to speak to him so boldly just a second ago. He was hesitating what to do next. "Should he kill her? Or just leave her here?"-he thought. Obviously she didn't impose any threat. Itachi felt her coughing while trying to breathe in. "Hmmm...If I push her chest harder into the dirt she will suffocate...Should I?" Her pale hands moved to grab his ankle and to try to push it away. She had a nice body, she must be in her late teens, probably around his brothers age too.

-"What is your name, kunoichi?"-Itachi asked.

-"S-sakura..."

- "Hmmm... you will come with me" -Itachi said and removed his foot from her chest. Red, red sharingan eyes was all Sakura saw when she passed out.