Hi guys. This is my first Itachi Sakura story!

So please read this before you read the story.

This is slightly a different story. It's an Alternative Universe. The Massacre never happened. There is a giant wall about a mile outside Konoha that circles its entirety.

The wall is guarded by the Nights Watch (From Game of Thrones) Men who work and protect the wall from outsiders.

If you have anymore questions feel free to ask.

This is just a small intro to see if people like the story. So please review and tell me if you think it's worth writing.

Guess who's a member of the nights watch too! ;) ;)

Along the wall that surrounds Konaha you can sometimes see them. The black silhouettes, moving against the sunrise. When we were younger we used to run as far as we could past the gates and into the surrounding fields to try and spot them. Perched on the wall. Never moving, Protecting.

The stories we used to tell when we were younger about them. That they were super humans who were chosen especially for protecting the wall. For protecting Konaha.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do? I mean have you really thought about this? Have you talked to Ino?" I ask.

Shikamaru grunted, kicking a loose stone.

"She refuses to talk to me right now."

"Well I don't very well blame her Shikamaru, I mean it's 5 years minimum on the wall."

"Yeah but there's a week vacation a year from the wall Sakura." He blurts.

"A week. Do you think Ino will be happy with seeing you 5 times in 5 years Shikamaru. A week off a year. No one is allowed go to the wall except the Nights watch-"

"- and Medic Nin," he smirks. I look up at him.

"Don't think I'm getting in between you and Ino. She will kill me. Literally serve my head on a platter!" I laugh.

"Look I'm not asking for much. I read up on it. Medics visit the wall every 2 weeks for check ups. I figured you could ask Hokage sama if she would let you assist with that team." Shikamaru says.

"And what Shikamaru? There's strict rules on the wall. Things are different there than they are here. I could get in trouble even showing interest in the wall, okay?" I whisper as we pass an open market.

There's a stigma attached to the Nights Watch and everything to do with the wall.

"I know I'm just asking that you do this much for me. That way I can send back letters to Ino. Please Sakura?" Shikamaru begs.

"I'll try Shikamaru but I'm guaranteeing no promises. I don't even know if Tsunade sama will even agree to let me assist with that medic team," I answered back intensely as we stopped outside Ino's house.

"Just try, Sakura that's all I ask," he requests making his way up the steps.

"Shikamaru, wait!" I call.

"Are you sure this is what you want? The men of the Nights Watch aren't supposed to take wives, or even have a girlfriend. They aren't allowed to marry! Shikamaru please, see reason. Don't do this!" I plea.

He stops on the steps. Stares longingly at Ino's house momentarily before turning around with his infamous ever placid expression.

"That's a little old fashion don't you think. 5 years minimum and I'll be out. Then I'll be back. I'll only be 25. Plenty of time for a family and a wife then, don't you think?" he grins at me glowingly.

But a certain panic builds up inside me. As much as we used to swap stories about the wall when we were younger, it's not something many people talk about anymore. Because there's no one to tell the stories anymore.

"Shikamaru?" I call after him once more.

"Yeah?"

"5 years minimum? Name one person who's ever come back from the wall?"

Shikamaru pauses. He looks down at the porch steps beneath him and shoots me a troublesome look.

"Once you leave for the wall you never come back. 5 years turns into 50 before you know it."

Shikamaru laughs, shaking his head. I watch his ponytail jiggle.

"You're just remembering too much of those children's stories Sakura," he grins, leaving me standing alone outside Ino's house. Standing on the porch steps.

I turn towards the back of Ino's house and stare beyond it. To the wall. I wonder what the men of the Night's Watch are doing right now. If they know they're stealing one of my friend's lives. If they truly know just how many lives they've taken. How many men we've lost to the Wall.

I turn to leave, pulling my hood up, sheltering my face away from the Wall.

I know it's very short but it's just an intro to to the story to see if you guys think it's worth continuing.

I have good plans for this story so let me know what you think :)

xxx