Thanks to the people who took the effort to review or fave the prologue.
Now, here's a REAL chapter for y'all

ENJOY!

~::~

5 years Later

Itachi sighed as he looked at his companion. He felt sadness nicking at the pit of his stomach, coupled with anxiousness. He was, after all, leaving one of his only two important people behind.

Again.

He shook his head as he tried to banish to the back of his mind, but he couldn't stop thinking about the talented pinkette.

He sighed again. There was no avoiding it. The little girl had grown on him. She taught him to trust again. She taught him that there was more to life than the continuous pattern he was used to; killing, training, and more killing.

And now, he was doing this. After all their time together, all their time as acquaintances – hell, even friends – he was doing the same thing he'd done five years ago – rejecting.

While she didn't see it as rejection but more of returning the favour, he had that nagging feeling again. Like he was going to regret his choice.

"Itachi-sensei. I. Will. Be. Fine."

He almost snorted. Once again she proved that she could read him almost effortlessly. He had taught her well.

"I had lived in the Leaf Village before, though I don't have many pleasant memories, I am positive I will do fine. You should really stop blaming yourself – it's natural that you want to look out for your brother in any way you can, and we both know that no matter how skilled I might be, I cannot come with you on this particular journey."

How did she always know exactly what to say to make him feel better?

"Let's go over the plan again." He suggested.

The ten-year-old rosette beside him ran a hand through her waist-long tresses, poorly concealing her amused smile.

"Right. When I reach the Leaf Village, I am to go to the Hokage and ask to enrol in the Academy. I am not to show any signs of recognition when they speak of things I shouldn't know of, I am to keep a tab on your brother and the Nine-Tailed Jinchuuriki, and send regular updates on their progress to you through our crows." Her eyes glinted mischievously. "And most importantly, I am to become stronger so one day I will be known and feared throughout the entire Five Ninja Nations, and I will finally be acknowledged as Uchiha Itachi's apprentice."

Itachi smirked. She had it all down to the single detail. But then his smirk faded when he realised just exactly what he was doing.

He was deliberately sending her to Konoha, a place of bad memories for both of them, to keep track of his little brother, while he went on a jolly field-trip to join Akatsuki and hunt down Jinchuuriki and kill people he'd sworn to protect the day he became ninja.

They were both insane.

Unfortunately for both of them, insanity usually went together with the path they had chosen. They were monsters, killers and thieves. And they couldn't even deny it.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open and he reached blindly to his left to grab Sakura's shoulder, only to have his fingers close on air.

He looked around, Sharingan activated, and was greeted with the sight of Sakura battling three ninja while the other two tried to slide in behind her. Cursing internally that he'd dropped his guard; Itachi shot two kunai at one of the nins, instantly killing him. The other, suddenly aware of his presence barked for one of the three who were fighting Sakura to come with him. Itachi watched as Sakura used the ninja's temporary distraction to plant her elbow firmly in his face without as much as flinching when the skull shattered and shards of bone ripped through the skin.

Itachi performed the necessary hand seals, and a moment later an enormous Fireball soared through the air, burning everything in its path. Including the supposed 'Leader' of the group.

He turned when he heard a hiss and saw that one of the two leftover ninjas had managed to nick Sakura's shirt with his kunai.

"That was my favourite shirt, you bastard! Chakura no Mesu!"

The ninja was dead within an instant, and Itachi watched as his head rolled off into the bushes.

He held out a hand to stop any further assault on the ninja she might've planned.

Itachi turned to the last survivor. Sharingan eyes narrowed, and he watched as the ninja gulped. "Who sent you?"

"G-Go to hell!"

Then the screaming begun.

~::~

Sakura stood in front of him, her eyes glistening with tears she refused to shed. "Goodbye, Itachi-sensei."
Be careful.

So much more could have been said, and yet they both understood that as much as they wanted to, they couldn't say it.

They didn't need to.

"Become stronger." Make me proud.

"I will. Don't get into trouble." Please don't forget me.

"I won't. I promise." I will come back for you.

Sakura stood there, completely still as if she was fighting an inner battle. Finally, she moved, jumping at Itachi and wrapping her arms around him in a fierce hug. He laid his hands on her head, and let his chin fall on his chest.

He'd miss her.

They stood there, neither saying anything, simply enjoying the warmth that could only form between two people who share a deep bond. They trusted each other unconditionally.

Finally, Sakura stepped back and carefully schooled her features into that of indifference.

A shinobi must never show emotion.

She regarded Itachi coolly, her gaze never wavering.

"I will inform you about the success or failure of this mission 30 days from now, and I will continue sending the reports if you want me to do so."

A shinobi must always put the mission first.

Itachi met her gaze, his own blank façade falling into place effortlessly.

"Take care of my brother."

"As you wish."

A shinobi must never question their commander.

"You will make sure that the report is delivered on time. No exceptions."

A shinobi must see underneath the underneath.

Sakura almost smiled when she realised the real meaning of his words. Don't die yet.

"I trust you remember your cover story?"

"Hai."

A shinobi must prepare before it is too late to.

"Good."

They stood there for a moment, and just as Sakura turned to leave, she heard the words that made her turn around instantly.

"Be careful, Sakura-hime."

But he was already gone.

~::~

Sakura walked up to the village gates, a sense of nostalgia overtaking her. Last time she'd been in this village, it smelt of death, rotten skin and betrayal. She didn't have any pleasant memories from this village, even though she lived here before the Massacre took place.

But now she had nowhere to go to. Her mother died during childbirth, and her father's location was unknown.

But… She didn't miss him.

Because she had Itachi.

~::~

"Who are you?" one of the gate-guards asked, looking at Sakura with narrowed eyes.

"Kotetsu, she's just a kid." The other guard retorted, then turned to Sakura. "Are you lost?"

Sakura shook her head. "No. I came here on my own accord."

The one named Kotetsu paled. "You came here on your own? But you're just a girl! A kid!"

Sakura glared Deathly Flames O' Doom at the annoying guard.

He gulped.

"I wish to speak to the Hokage, if you don't mind."

"But-"

"I will escort you to the Tower, while my incompetent partner stays here to guard the gates. Hm?" the other guard offered.

Sakura inwardly smirked. He was like a puppet. She could manipulate him to her own will so easily.

Konoha seemed quite trusting.

Too bad for them.

~::~

"Hokage-sama, there's someone who'd like to see you."

"Send them in."

The door opened and Sakura walked in. The office was…different than the Mizukage's. It was well decorated and inviting, the soft beige colour on the walls was comforting. But Sakura wasn't one to trust a place simply by its looks. She stepped forward and bowed.

"It's an honour to meet you, Hokage-sama."

"Stand up, child. Now, would you mind explaining why you wanted to see me?"

Sakura was acutely aware of the two ANBU who stood in the shadowed corner of the office. Deliberately letting her gaze slide to the corner before looking back at the Hokage, she spoke.

"My name's Haruno Sakura. I was born in Konohagakure, but was kidnapped at the day of the Uchiha Massacre by a missing-nin when everyone was too busy with the bodies and covering the evidence to notice the disappearance of a meek, barely five-year-old child. I was taken to Ame and forced to stay with the ninja, as I had no other place to go to. A year later, the missing-nin was found dead and a ninja family took me in. I lived with them until a civil war broke out and then run away, deciding to travel around the hidden villages in hopes of finding somewhere to settle down at. That's how I'm here."

Sakura inwardly smirked. She purposely chose Ame as her 'refuge' since the country was at war with itself practically every day. Orphans were common around that area.

"Very well. I will let you stay at my village under one condition. Tell me child, how old are you?"

Sakura looked at the older man, silently contemplating whether she should tell the truth or lie. She chose truth. "I am ten, Hokage-sama."

The Hokage's eyes widened slightly, before he sighed. "Tell me, do you wish to become a ninja?"

The rosette had to hide a snort. Did he not notice the kunai pouch strapped to her thigh? Or the gleaming blade strapped to her back?
She took a deep and nodded sharply.

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

"Then I must ask you to enrol into the Ninja Academy. The graduation to genin will be taking place soon."

"I understand, Hokage-sama. If you don't mind me asking, where will I be staying?"

"I have organized a small apartment at the edge of the town for you to live in. It is small, but it should contain everything you might need."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama. I will take my leave." Sakura bowed respectfully.

Sarutobi nodded and one of the ANBU hiding in the corner strolled casually over to the rosette gesturing for her to follow. The little girl didn't even flinch.

~::~

Sakura walked into the small apartment, her eyes scanning over the wooden floor boards and light grey walls. The furniture was simple, but it would be enough to satisfy the necessities of a ten-year-old. She walked up the stairs, examining each corner, for traps or evidence of life.

Nothing.

Walking into the bedroom, Sakura noticed that it was the only part of the house which wasn't light grey; the walls were crisp white and the bedsheets were the colour of a deep crimson. The nightstand and closet were birch wood. The room smelled of cleaning substances and something in the black curtains covering the window gave an impression that the room was somewhat haunted… Sakura shook the thought off. She wasn't foolish.

But then again, she had to somehow replace the lack of foolishness with something else, and it just so happened that cunningness went on par with foolishness. It was just conveyed into more interesting decisions.

So, with a smirk on her soft lips, Sakura grabbed kunai, wire and anything else she would need and set to work.

~::~

Approximately an hour later, Sakura stood in her living room, admiring the quick yet stealthy traps she placed around the house. A barrage of kunai at each window and a small bell-senbon tied to ninja wire to alert her of even the slightest of movements outside the house, and a highly advanced genjutsu was placed on the door.

Let the fun begin.

~::~

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