She has green emerald eyes, and ridiculously beautiful, pink hair.

Great. Another Konan .

The whale-man shifted his gigantic sword from his right shoulder to his left. Seriously, what do they want with this kid?

Itachi glanced sideways at his partner. "I know what you're thinking..."

"Yeah yeah, you always do, ne? But it's just outrageous!Us, getting help from a pink-haired girl?"

Itachi closed his eyes. "You're forgetting, Kisame, she's a medic. Themedic. "

Kisame's eyes widened and he turned to face his comrade, "You mean the medic-nin who killed Sasori-sama? And practically gave back the life of the Kazekage?"

"Yes. And the rumored ninja trained by the Godaime herself that is supposed to already surpass her master's skills."

"But what is Pein planning to do with her? Surely not to make her a baby machine?"

"Pervert."

"Hehe sorry, got a little carried away... But I seemed to remember she's the copy ninja's student right? "Kisame turned back his gaze to the kunoichi. " And... The friend of the..."

"Kyuubi's vessel. You're finally catching on."

Ignoring the insult, he replied, "So Pein wants us to take her and be the Kyuubi's bait? Yeah, our Leader's real classy. Old school hook-line and sinker strategy. Great."

Itachi almost snorted. Almost.

The wind blew. His hair with it. Memories came flooding onto his mind. This village promises much more in the future. He could still remember those long walks from the training grounds with-

He stopped, snapping out of his reverie. Well, as far as he is concern, it's just another mission. And a mission from where he could benefit something. Let's see if you really did cut off all ties here, little brother.

He smirked. A very tiny smirk.

"SAKURA-CHAN!"

Aarrgh, she groaned, can Naruto ever keep quiet?

The door opened, and in came the very hyperactive, wants-to-be-a-hokage knuckleheaded ninja clad in orange and black. He smiled when he saw her, and quickly ran over to her side.

"There you are, Sakura-chan."

The nurses in the office were all shaking their heads. More of Naruto and I will be banned visitors.

"Naruto, won't you ever keep quiet?" she snarled.

"Ne, Sakura-chan, don't be angry! We wanted to visit you..."

"We?"

"Hey, Ugly."

Sakura furrowed her brows but inwardly smiled. There in the doorway stood Sai, their teammate, who looks a bit like Sasuke with the black hair and eyes, an emotionless, empty, smile faker guy- until he became close with her and Naruto.

"Still have night shifts?"

Sakura looked back from what she was doing before she was interrupted. "Yeah. Just finishing off some antidotes needed for an anbu mission. And I have a very serious patient to take care of."

"Come-on! What kind of serious is it? I bet it's nothing a hot bath won't cure, eh? You've been working too much, Sakura-chan."

Sakura glared. Yes glared. Is Naruto really such a dobe?

Sai can sense evil in the air. Back away a bit, Naruto. You're getting on her nerves.

She turned back on her work. She really had been working too hard ever since-

She narrowed her brows.

Ever since that last meeting with Sasuke.

Sasuke. He's changed much, physically. But hasn't on his overall demeanor.

He's still the stoic, I'm-the-prodigy-Uchiha-so-back-off guy she remembers back from their genin days.

But more evil.

He used his Sharingan on her! He tried to attack her with his chidori-wielding katana if not for Yamato-san protecting her! He practically tried to kill Naruto as well! He escaped again, being cool and unwavering as ever.

No, that's not what's bothering her.

What bothers her is how she had just sat back and let Naruto, Sai and Captain Yamato do all the work. Sure she made a grand entrance, pulling Sai around the neck and shouting something about Sai lying to her and being selfish as to not let the team help him, it bothers her that even after training all those years, and what the heck, with Hokage herself, it didn't do much to improve her abilities. And no, she's not blaming her famous mentor, but instead herself. Useless and a waste of space self.

That's why she'd been submerging herself in her work more, hoping she'll drown.

"-say we go to Ichiraku's?"

Sai frowned at Sakura. She really does have a lot in mind.

"Hey Ugly."

Sakura's head perked up, snapping out of her thoughts.

"Yeah-what?"

Sai was shaking his head. "It's common courtesy to listen when people talk to you."

"Wow, since when did you know about the word courtesy?" She smirked, a little.

"Hmp."

"So Sakura-chan," speaking louder so as not to be left out, "What'd you say? Ichiraku's?"

She hesitated, but then again, it's not every night you can go out with your boy-best friends, right?

"Sure."

"That was great!"

Naruto slammed down his eighth ramen bowl on the table. "That's what I call a hearty supper."

"Huh."

Sai had finished his ramen over a good twenty minutes ago. Sakura for ten minutes, but that's because she slowed down a bit for Naruto. (Can't blame Naruto though, Ramen's really good!)

They walked out the shop five minutes later.

"See Sakura-chan? This is way better than treating one of your patients tonight." Naruto boasted.

Sakura, hands behind her back, fall behind a little bit and looked up at the moon. It was full tonight, setting a wondrous moonlight glow over the village. It was past ten, so very few people are now out the streets, including them.

It was so peaceful. She breathed in the scent of nature, as the wind blew and let her hair fly around her.

She smiled.

She looked at the two boys ahead of her.

She linked her arms with theirs and laughed.

"What?" They both asked, surprised at the sudden action.

"You guys are the BEST!"

They gaped, then collected themselves and chuckled with her.

"Of course we are! We aren't called best friends for nothing." Naruto gushed.

"We had to take you away from the hospital because you look less uglier OUTSIDE." Sai added.

Taking the insult as a compliment, she smiled.

"Well then, I can always rely on you to take me away, Naruto-kun, Sai-kun."

Smiles.

As she reached her room, (she's still living with her parents) she didn't bother changing the clothes she was in, shorts and a red, checkered button-up shirt , and long socks. She had only taken out her boots. As she lay in bed, resting, she caught an unfamiliar scent around her.

She got up, put on her just-below-the-knee boots and stared out the window.

A shadow passed.

Two.

One was carrying a big bulky thing.

The other stepped in front of her and all she could see is red.

"I-Itachi Uchiha?"

"Hello."

Then she blacked out.

Author's Note: This is actually my first fanfic ever, so Reviews are very welcome. Also criticisms ( Can't avoid them, can we? ) And please give me some advices if there are any problems with the story… Thank you!

Muahh.