Fiat justitia, ruatcaelum

{{A/N; Heads up gang! This post has two chapters in it!

'The Calm' and the follow up 'Before The Storm' are supposed to be side by each, but they broke up funny, so this is how it is.

I'm also coming on the WIP piont pretty fast (That whole three chapters a week thing, hehe) and finally, yes, I know I seem to be getting away from Sakura. I didn't even realize it until I was rereading through it. That is being fixed with all due haste.

And beware, this is where the 'death' tag starts coming into play. Thanks, CD}}



What Leaves the Forest



Ryo stretched as the first early rays of light began to filter down through the dense canopy overhead. *Last watch is always the long one…* Giving their surroundings one last hard look before turning to the slumbering comrades.

*That’s so cute…* Inner Sakura mused with a soft smile, *And kind of disturbing when I think about it too much…*

Suki lay with her legs entwined around Kitsune, who in turn lay cuddled tightly against Suki, head pillowed on one breast and gently groping the other.

*I almost wish I could capture this very image… And torment the hell out of the with it later!*

Basking in the intimate glow of the moment, Inner Sakura sighed girlishly as Kitsune nuzzled against Suki, mumbling something completely unintelligible.

And Ryo wiped drool away as Suki responded on the unconscious level. Their noses brushed as each aligned…

*No. Way…*

Lips grazed…

*Way…*

And the pair joined, Suki’s darkly toned lips meshing with Kitsune’s garishly painted. It was difficult to tell which of the two was moaning, unless they both were. Suki’s arm wrapped tighter around Kitsune, drawing her in, the free hand coming up to caress Kitsune’s neck butterfly light in touch.

The seperated , resettling.

“Hnn…love you, Ino…”

And Kitsune’s blue eyes snapped open, wide awake. “I’m not Ino!”

Suki froze, eyes still closed. “No…” She opened the dark gaze slowly, turning to look at the girl on her chest, “…You. Are. Not.”

Kitsune only blinked in reply.

Suki shot up to sitting, wiping her mouth, “Damn it Dobe! Why!?”

Kitsune was still mired in shock, staring at the trees above. “I just made out with the Teme…” One hand went to her mouth, then the other. “And I think I liked it…”

“Why were you so damn close to me anyway!?” Suki stood up, tugging at her skirt, getting it back in line.

“Why?” Kitsune sat up, glaring at Suki, “Let me as why! Like ‘why are you such a good damn kisser?’ How about that?”

Laughter burst from the third member of the team as Ryo finally collapsed to his knees, holding his middle.

“This is not funny in the least!” Suki fumed.

“Actually,” Kitsune climbed to her feet, “It is kinda funky. But Let’s just write this off as mistaken identity and it was cold.”

“Cold.” Suki nodded, “Right. Cold works. But I have a better idea.”

Kitsune nodded, “It never leaves the forest. It dies with these henges.”

“Agreed.” Suki extended a hand and the guys as girls shook.

Ryo finally came back to his senses, wiping a tear from his eyes. “Oh, man that was a riot…”

“Better than the book, eh?”

All three froze solid.

“I see three.” Suki spoke quietly.

“Two more here.” Kitsune stood with her back to Suki.

Ryo waved, “Um… Hi?”

The anbu with the dog faced mask waved back. “Yo! I’m glad I ran into you out here. I have your rope. Got a minute you can spare me?” The anbu approached casually, removing his mask, smiling broadly, “You know, before we get down to business.” And he handed the rope to Ryo.

“Can I have your word on that?” Ryo hesitated slightly as the anbu put an hand around his shoulder, guiding him away.

“Sure, sure,” he waved the mask, “Nin’s honor or whatever.”

They got a short distance from the two groups before the anbu said anything.

“Listen, about the other day…” The anbu’s voice was low, “That was clever. Damn clever, really. And executed flawlessly. Dummy wire inversion, the trap itself just being an audio signal, the gas tag, even the bait…” The anbu glanced back at the wary girls, each facing a pair of anbu, “While it wasn’t exactly classy, it was perfect.”

“This conversation is making me very nervous…” Ryo was sweating.

The anbu chuckled, “I understand, really I do. And here’s the gist of the whole thing; We aren’t really allowed to let you off that easy. Yes, you can nin very well. You picked out all my traps, even some of the good ones, and I dropped the ball and fell into yours like I was playing along, but if you don’t really work at it…”

“It defeats the purpose of having anbu out here to test us against.” Ryo supplied the blank.

“Exactly!” The anbu patted his shoulder, “So what we have is a minor problem. We have to report on your combat prowess one way or another. And you guys are fast. So you can play our game, so a few flashy jutsu and wager the talisman like good gamblers, or try to fight us all.”

Ryo swallowed, “So what’s the game…?”

“Glad you asked!” The anbu steered him back toward the group, “We do a little contest, try to show one and other up, just a little shinobi thing we did in my class. Best two of three wins.”

“But there’s five of you…”

The anbu laughed aloud, “Those other guys… They won’t get in, honest. They’re just curious.”

Ryo reached up, pointing, “You’ve still got a leaf in your hair…”

“Really? Damn…” The anbu plucked the leaf out, “Thought I got them all… So, you in?”

Ryo sagged. *Play the game and lose… can’t run… can’t fight… maybe fight…*

*But what if we win? Besides, we can always fight if we lose!*

Inner Sakura’s logic was undeniable.

“Yeah, we’re in. But what do we get if we win?”

The anbu shrugged, replacing his mask, “You get to leave without a fight. Isn’t that enough?”

Ryo’s face shadowed. “oh, yeah…”

“But if you lose, there are plenty of other fools left you lot could take heads up.” The anbu gave him a gentle punch in the shoulder, “But my money’s on you guys this round.”

“What are we in on, oh fearless leader?” Suki had drawn her belt, holding it taunt.

“Contest. Jutsu versus jutsu. Best two of three walks.” Ryo fingered the medallion in his pocket.

“Me first, me first!!” Kitsune shouted, hopping in place from foot to foot.

“Choose your art.” One of the other anbu answered.

Kitsune held still, eyes gleaming wickedly. “Summoning!”

One of the anbu stepped forward, hands flashing jutsu, “Allow me.” He knelt, driving one fist into the ground.

The soil bulged and split, rising beneath the anbu as great red eyes opened, a log, tapered snout forming as excess earth fell away.

A second pair of eyes opened, and a third, all blazing with crimson chakra. Each head was the size of a man’s torso, one head shaking and the loose soil away. A paw pulled itself from under the ground, the pad as large as a dinner platter. A second.

The three headed dog rose up, bearing the summoning anbu upon his back. And it stood, tall and proud over the hole it’s mass had come from.

“Wicked…” Kitsune gazed up at the living statue, staring deeply into eyes that stared back. And her face broke into a Cheshire grin. “This is better!” She formed the signs quickly and Ryo put his hands over his ears. The concussive wave as the air was filled bodies hit him and he could only smirk.

Inner Sakura cheered.

Scores of the boy in drag were perched, hanging, or lounging anywhere there was enough room to cram a body. Perhaps a hundred grins beamed down at the group.

The anbu gazed around them.

“Each with a chakra signature… All very solid.” One of the anbu cocked his head to one side, “You sure you’re only a genin?”

Kitsune stuck her tongue out, “Nyyahhh! That’s why I’m here!”

A wiry anbu stepped around the hound of earth, “I got this one.” His mask looked nearly human, the black and white paint twisting features into a silent scream of dementia. He drew an axe from his belt, the handle telescoping out into a halberd. The anbu charged the shaft, short spikes of chakra lancing out, the blade growing outward with a pearly shimmer. He swept the polearm in a tight arc, the buzz of the chakra humming through the air.

Suki put a hand on Ryo’s shoulder, “If I may?” She pulled a knife from her skirt, holding it tight in one hand. She braced her wrist with her other hand, holding them both down.

A single peep cracked the still air. Suki began to form signs with her one hand, not releasing her wrist. Another chirp. A snap of lightning running down the flat kunai.

One of the anbu stepped back, his arms raising to waist level.

Suki had her eyes closed, sweat beading on her brow. Her open hand passed over the kunai, leaving a thick layer of ice attached to the blade.

Her hand continued down slowly, the blade of ice she was forming in one hand alive with lightning that jumped and arc from the other.

Suki stopped with an eighteen inch blade, the lightning chattering like a shaken bird cage.

Most of the anbu were staring, all but the man wielding the halberd had removed their masks.

“Behold!” Suki raised the short sword of ice, “The Gryphon’s Blade!”

“I think we’ve seen enough.” The anbu with the dog faced mask put a hand on the pikeman’s shoulder. “Let’s go.”

The halberd extinguished, the shaft collapsing and the men vanishing in a cloud of smoke.

The others weren’t far behind. The great dog of earth remained, though the light in his six eyes soon flickered out and died.

“Hey!” The many Kitsunes were rushing about the clearing frantically, “What do we get? Pay up!!”

Ryo put his hand in his pants pocket and pulled out the amulet.

“Forget it, Kitsune.” Ryo stuffed the trinket back into his pocket, “Let’s go climb a mountain.”



Anko sighed heavily, relishing her one peaceful moment. The cool, course sandstone wall behind her was more comfortable than she had expected. Though it did little to ease her mind.

Her hand absentmindedly traced the pattern etched into the mask at her hip.

*It’s been… too long…*

She didn’t look down at her neglected mask. She had inspected it carefully before clipping it to her belt where it had remained. The time spent in the box hidden in the back of her wardrobe had done it little harm.

But her mind refused to stray far from the object behind the mask. A small book with a battered pink cover… and the object within the pages.

Another mask held her eye. The hunter nin that constantly shadowed the Lady Hanuro. He was a tall man, but the mask… The pink waves had been repainted recently, but the background white was still dull. The katana kanji in deep black still crisp and shiny.

The contrast seemed purposeful. As though he wanted to declare that he himself was old, though his mistress and station were new.

*Or perhaps he didn’t have any white paint…*

There was a subtle commotion, the whoops and cheers of young nin. The first of the genin teams had arrived.

*Their instruction is getting better, or the forest is getting lenient…* Anko sighed, levering her shoulders against the wall, pushing away. *Forgive me, Hokage past.* Anko made her way into the area, moving toward the Lady Hanuro. *I have tried and failed. And I have failed Konoha.*

She walked without purpose, aiming for the refreshments table. The hunter nin had seen her. Was watching her. His arms were crossed and relaxed. But she knew as well as he did, we was more than ready to draw the heavy blade on his back and cleave her in half.

She swallowed, almost wishing her had slain her that day…

“Sergeant.” Kakashi’s voice hit her from behind. She stopped, turned. Her smile was weak and she knew her eyes betrayed her.

The Sharingan twitched as she stared into it. “I will have a word with you.” The captain turned his back to her, moving to the row of locked offices. The order was clear.

Anko forced herself to move without hesitation, stifled the urge to glance to the Lady Hanuro.

Her lord had unlocked one of the doors and entered, leaving the threshold ajar.

Anko stepped inside, gently throwing the door closed behind her. “Yes, Captain?”

“I have not yet received your report on the Exile’s recent movements.” He didn’t face her.

“There have been none, Lord Hitake. Uzumaki is unusually quiet these last months. Indeed, all of Konoha…”

“Don’t lecture me on the whole of Konoha!” Kakashi interrupted, turning to face her. ‘I am the one who reads each of the damned reports each and every one of you files. I think I know a bit more about the petty thievery and inane pranks that infest this city than you!”

Anko bowed low, “I apologize, Lord Hitake. I know of your workload and presumed that you did not wish to know of such minor matters.”

She came back up, hearing the flash of jutsu as arms grabbed her. A doppelganger to each side held her in an iron lock, forcing her down to her knees, lifting her arms to the breaking point.

“One thing does please me.” Anko looked into the swirling Sharingan, wincing as the clones tweaked the pressure in her arms. “And that is one very simple thing.”

Kakashi pulled the pink book from under her mask, “I can now ask about your position towards the Exile. Such as, Why do you allow him to escape after publicly humiliating you and even the murder of some of this village’s finer anbu?” Anko didn’t struggle against her captors, “If he killed them, why do you think he was doing anything but toying with me? It‘s his game.”

“And you have played along with that game for some time now, Mitarashi.”

Anko dared a smirk, “Then perhaps it is why I’m still ali- ahhhrr!” The twist of her arms shut her mouth and her eyes.

“I imagine it has. And it is that position I believe the Lord Hokage wishes to speak with you about.”

Anko looked back up. Kakashi had opened the book, flipping through the pages. “I was unaware that you read these, Sergeant… Interesting, I suppose. But an old copy.”

“I do try to keep my private and professional lives separate, Lord Hitake.” Anko held by her grunt of pain as her arms were wrenched again, “I has one of my favorite scenes of the series.”

“This book marked page?” Kakashi opened the book to the page, scanning the pages. Then he pulled up the bookmark, checking each side. “A letter?” He opened his hand, he book falling forgotten to the floor. He unfolded the page, “Well, well… This I had not expected.” He dropped the paper as well, the blank sides fluttering in the air and settling to the stone with a sigh.

“Anything else, Lord Hitake?”

“Actually, yes.”

*No…*

The doppelgangers slammed Anko against the wall, each grabbing an ankle, pinning her spread eagle to the stone.

“The Lord Hokage wished to speak with you…” Kakashi looked up. He was smiling. His own eye glittered with a malice that still her breath. “Posthumously.”

His hand snapped out, the grip as strong as those of his clones.

Anko held his eye, *Keep it hard… don’t blink…*

“I assume you have a few choice words before I burn the chakra out of your body?”

“Snork and Ptoo.”

Kakashi lifted one brow.

Anko horked the slick slime from the back of her throat and blew it out. The fist closed around her throat, choking her as the anbu captain wiped the spit from the palm of his hand on her vest.

“And here I was expecting ‘go to hell’, or you ‘can’t make me scream’.”

Anko held still, fighting down the panic unique to being unable to breathe. And then it began. An arc of lightning, a plume of fire. Both began to eat at her from within. The fire filled her lungs, her heart. Cycled around her body through her veins.

And she screamed silently. The grip over her throat holding the cry within her chest.

The sensation ended. And sweet, cold air filled her lungs. Anko coughed, the hot spittle mixed with blood escaping past her lips.

“I just wanted you coherent for this.” Kakashi stayed at arm’s length. “So you could appreciate the fleeting feeling of life as death overcomes you.”

Kakashi held tight as the woman struggled in his grip. The heat beneath his hand, the primal panic with which her heart raced. This was the face of death that he knew.

And suddenly, the heat in his hand went cold.

Her pulse slowed quickly, the fires of her spirit guttering like a lamp without oil.

The doppelgangers vanished in a flash of smoke, the limbs falling limply.

He could still see the struggle in her mind. The panic that was winding down into darkness.

And her heart had stopped.

As Kakashi watched the light of life fade from Mitarashi’s eyes, he reflected. It wasn’t that he felt the final, agonizing beat before the organ simply ceased. It was more that he suddenly realized that which was ever present was now quite absent.

With a corpse in hand, Kakashi walked to the desk that occupied one corner of the room, laying his load upon it like any would a mannequin.

That end achieved, he turned his back on her and calmly stepped out of the office, locking the door securely behind himself.

“Ladies and gentlemen…” Kakashi raised his hand for their attention, “Due to her position in matters of the state, I’m afraid Sergeant Mitarashi has been reassigned. I will be your guide for the remainder of the term or until a new qualified delegate can be found. Now, If you’ll all come this way, the evening meal is ready, and it’s a real treat tonight!”



Inner Sakura fumed as Ryo climbed the sheer wall. Kitsune was doing well, exuding claws of chakra and having the reserves to maintain them, she was almost playing as they climbed.

Suki, on the other hand, had passed out shortly into the climb.

“I told you before and I’m saying it again,” Kitsune was actually standing against the vertical wall, her feet planted firmly and arms crossed as her hair hung down, “It’s chakra exhaustion. Suki went off and used too much on that silly knife thingy.”

“Yes…” Ryo growled, pulling himself up another arm’s length, “So you’ve told me about a thousand times along this climb. You still got that rope?”

“Yep!”

“Good.” Ryo sighed, “Get over the top and tie it off someplace.”

“Right boss.” Kitsune scrambled up the wall, red sequined panties flashing with each swing she took upward.

*I am such a pervert…*

*Oh yeah you are, hehehe*

Kitsune literally threw herself over the ledge and was gone a moment before the rope came back down, about two feet too short.

Ryo sighed, giving the rope a good tug. Then he began to scale the wall, walking along as Kitsune took lengths at the top as well.

Ryo came over the top, feeling fatigued, but serviceable. He set Suki down, angry with himself now for having tried to conserve chakra for the fight he had expected at the top.

“Ring bell…” Kitsune was looking absently at the large bronze plaque. “Okay!”

“Hang on…!” Ryo was too late, the aged rope was in her hands and the girl in the red dress had already given the rope a strong tug.

The sound of a gong ringing above them sounded once and a chunin appeared, her smile wide as she held her hand out, “Your talisman?”

Ryo dug the medal out of his pocket, flicking it to the woman.

The ring through the air was a nice sound and the woman carefully inspected the trinket before looking back at Ryo, “You have passed this portion of the exam.” She smiled brightly, “Let me show you to your rooms.”



The Calm



Itachi sat at the desk. The rooms were interesting. There was the main chamber that held the desk, a large bed, and a good deal of space, a room portioned off that held two rows of cots and lead to the private bathroom. The page before him was half filled with random musings and poorly drawn doodles.

In contrast to his latest bout of insomnia, Zabuza lay on the bed in his armor, snoring lightly and cuddling with his unsheathed blade the way most children cuddled stuffed animals.

Itachi still thought it strange that the trademark zanbato was sitting in the arms room under the mountain, rusting away while the old armor Zabuza claimed not to have worn since he was childless was back in service.

*Like dressing normally was an option…‘Hi, It’s Itachi and Zabuza! We’re here with the real Hanuro and the Exile. Yes, and the Missing Hyuuga! Yeay!’ And that‘s why I shaved my legs and arms and I’m wearing a dress…* He pulled at the garment, *How do they manage? It’s restricting, heavy, noisy… It is a nice pattern, though.*

Itachi blinked, then shook his head violently. “Whoa…That was not cool…” He whispered to no one. “I need to play a punching game or find some chicks to ogle or something. This goes on too much longer, I’ll be talking to myself and trying my hand at flower arranging…”

He got up, wandering to the table set against the wall. The bouquet was a few days old and some of the flowers had wilted. And dying for something to do, Itachi pulled out the badly wilted specimens.

“Except now it’s lopsided…” Itachi growled to himself, pulling some of the fresher flowers out and replacing them on the other side.

After three failed attempts to get the bouquet to balance, Itachi’s hand froze. “aw, hells…” He stuffed the flowers, all of them, back into the vase and sat back at the desk, picking up the pen and doodling swirls on the page.

Zabuza still slumbered, totally unaware of the things going on so nearby.

“At least I’m only dressing funny.” Itachi smirked, changing his swirls to a sketch of Sasuke in a skirt, “Otosan even tastes like a girl right now. He is the queen of those that drag. Oh, yes. He is the mistress drag queen!”

“Donn’ pick on yer brother…’Tashi…” Zabuza mumbled in his sleep.

A sharp knock sounded on the door, three heavy raps.

Zabuza hit the floor, his sword ready, a jutsu sign half formed in one hand.

“Lady Hanuro?”

“Yes?” Itachi answered, his falsetto was flimsy, but it worked.

“Your nin have come out of the forest and have requested to stay with you.” The woman on the other side of the door spoke slowly and clearly.

“Certainly. Send them in, please.” Itachi pulled the veil into place.

The door opened and the six trekked in, some a little better off than others.

“Will you need anything else, Milady?” The woman was patient.

“No, thank you.” Itachi nodded to her, “We have what we need here.”

“Very well.” The woman bowed and stepped out, closing the door behind her.

Zabuza knelt before the line of blade nin. “Suke over worked himself with some fancy jutsu he hasn’t really mastered just yet and Hinata…”

Hinata interrupted, glaring in Sakura’s direction, “Is fine, thank you. I’m just a little exhausted. I’ll be fine after I get some sleep.” She took about three steps before leaning too far over and toppling into Naruto’s arms.

“This is a whole new kind of pissed off…” Hinata growled, but allowed Naruto to guide her to the cots. She lifted her headband, only to pull it back down, “The light is pissing me off…” If he were trying any harder to carry her, she would have been draped over his shoulders.

Sakura had Sasuke in hand, trailing after Naruto and Hinata with Ino just behind her.

Haku and Zabuza had retreated to the corner where the abused bouquet sat, Haku talked quickly and gesturing as she rearranged the flowers, pulling out those that had wilted or been broken.

Itachi made his way to the balcony. He needed to get away from them all. If for just a few moments.

He cast his eye over the autumn forest. The warm evening air blowing past gently. It was pretty… But some detail he couldn’t pick up nagged at him.

He heard the jinchuuriki come up beside him and lean against the rail.

“You see it too, eh?” Naruto sighed.

“What are we looking at?”

“The forest. Just the nature of the place…” Naruto turned his back to the view, “It’s crossed the fine line between twisted beauty and brutality. And it shows when you look down at a place.”

Itachi nodded. “I do believe you’re right on that one.”

“Damn it, Ino, Shut UP!” Hinata’s voice drifted out through to open door, “Unconscious means he can’t Hear you!”

Itachi sighed, grinning. “That girl is a handful.”

“She is…” Naruto’s tone slipped down as he spoke.

Itachi nudged him with one elbow, “Aren’t you supposed to be a little more chipper or something?”

Naruto sighed again, a half smile coming to his lips, “I am, aren’t I?” He ruffled the feminine hair, “I’m just worried is all.”

Itachi shook his head, “Hehe, The Exile, Bane of Konoha, and Prankster Unrivalled and you’re worried? You’ve been in the henge too long.”

Naruto only grew more somber, “We were talking about our henges when a group of anbu came up on us. And we may have revealed too much out there…Hinata was within arm’s reach of a Hyuuga with her eyes going. And to top it all off, The Gryphon’s Blade? Looks like a half frozen chidori to me.”

Itachi hung his head, “He’d told he’d been working on something new. Did it go off?”

Naruto shrugged, a blade of ice and the incriminating lightning. But It took a long time to form and it pretty much wiped him out single handedly.”

“All that comes together…” Itachi turned to face Naruto, “You think it’s too much?”

“Kyuubi knows our cover is blown. As certain as if we’d come to town with out hair dyed black and wearing big fans on out matching jackets.” Naruto didn’t look at him, but didn’t look away either.

“Damn.” Itachi played with the hem of his dress, “I’d better put some pants on then.”

Naruto smiled, a laugh coming at last, “And people think I’m weird…”

“Hehehe, Don’t forget to shave your legs!” Itachi gave Naruto’s exposed thigh a slap

“This a private party or can a real girl join in?” Sakura stood in the doorway, leaning out.

“I’m a real girl!” Naruto jiggled his henge breasts then thumbed at Itachi, “He’s the one in drag.”

Sakura shook her head, “Can’t you say anything about your tits without playing with them?” Though she smiled.

Naruto laughed, “I could, but they’re just so perky…” He grabbed one, “And pretty…” he took hold of the other, “I just can’t help myself!”

The image of Ryo grabbed the fly of his leather pants, “Keep it up, Chick, and I’ll get it up!”

“Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa!” Itachi covered his eyes, “I do not need to see that! It would forever scar my little mind…Give me nightmares for years to come!”

“He’s not dead or dying! But keep that up and YOU WILL BE!”

“Hinata’s scary when she’s grumpy.” Sakura looked back inside.

Naruto shrugged, “If I had a headache like the one she got ahold of, I’d be pretty testy too. But she says she’ll be fine after some rest, and it is her skull. How about Sasuke?”

Sakura turned her attention back forward, “He’s just tapped out is all. His chakra will be a little tender for a few days, but he’s good to go.”

“You want to mourn him, just stab the poor bastard already!” Hinata shouted again, “Here’s the knife!”

Ino cried out and something metallic rang out as it glanced off of the stone wall.

“I better go save Ino.” Naruto came off the rail, “Maybe I can sing her to sleep and sneak in subtle jutsu.”

“Where’s you learn advanced medical jutsu like that?”

Naruto paused, “Advanced? Not really. But I always though it was funny to put the gate guards to sleep in the middle of the day.” He smirked impishly, “About five minutes before the captain came by for inspection, hehehe.”

“Not that,” Sakura laughed, “The one that makes it so you can sing!”

Naruto laughed back, “Come on, anyone can manage a lullaby.” He flipped his hair as he turned and disappeared into the dark room where Hinata may have already killed someone.

“That really bothers you, doesn’t it?”

Sakura turned to Itachi. “Hm? No.”

He smirked, “You forget you’re in a guy’s body right now. I can read a guy. I am one.”

Sakura sighed, falling back against the wall, “Fine. Yes, it bothers me. But he is her friend too. And she needs the help.”

“Well,” Itachi put his back to the rail, “If it helps any, I know for a fact that Hinata has as much love interest in anyone as Zabuza.”

Sakura felt her shoulders relax.

“So don’t be so jealous. It’ll give you wrinkles.” The Uchiha smirked at her.

“Wha…? Jealous? Who’s jealous?” Sakura pointed to herself, jaw falling when Itachi nodded. “I’m not… Listen, if I were to be jealous of anyone, it’d Sasuke who woke up to a late morning lip lock with him.”

Itachi’s eyes went wide. “You just actually said that, right? I’m not trying to see through three thoughts at once? My brother really…”

Sakura nodded, “Damn near sucked his face inside out!”

Itachi giggled, rubbing his hands together, “Oh, I can’t wait to see his face when I throw that out on the table…”

“You can’t!” Sakura grabbed his arms, “You aren’t even supposed to know… What happens in the forest…”

“Awww…” Itachi sank. Then sighed, “Oh well. At least I can always gloat about it to myself… maybe torment him about it without actually saying anything.” His face seemed to brighten at the prospect.





{{A/N; I hope to have 'Before The Storm' posted by this afternoon. And though I keep really whacked out hours, I try to please those that love me. Your Ita/Saku has been written, but I had to clip most of the Gaa/Naru peice. M/M just doesn't jive with me, sorry. I really tried though. Honest. Later guys, I got work to do. CD}}