Inevitable
Chapter 1

The next day found the original members of Team Seven gettingready to spar in their usual training grounds: a grassy field surrounded bytrees. Sasuke Uchiha was wrapping his wrists with bandages so he could practisehis version of Rock Lee's ‘Primary Lotus’ move. Naruto Uzumaki was making surethe nine tailed demon fox wouldn't aid in his fight, since it was just sparringand he wasn't in real danger. Sakura Haruno, the team medic with intensestrength, was putting on her battle gloves, and the team leader, Kakashi Hatake,was reading his usual perverted Icha-Icha Paradise novel.

"Hey, has anyone seen Ameji?" Naruto asked once hewas finished with his conversation with the demon fox.

"I saw her yesterday, but not today yet. How about you,Sasuke?" Sakura turned to the Uchiha who was barely paying attention.

"No, not yet, but yesterday she was at my house talkingwith Itachi," Sasuke shrugged, not showing his curiosity of to where hisbrother ran off to. He hadn't seen him at breakfast either...

Kakashi laughed and decided to have a little bit of fun withhis former students. "I heard that they were madly in love and are runningaway together to Suna." The three teens stiffened and Kakashi smirked. "Oh,poor Sasuke, not even knowing that his brother was a slave to love. Don't be sad,it happens to the best of us," the Jonin sighed dramatically.

"Ameji wouldn't leave like that without tellingus!" Sakura protested. 'Yah, shewould also at least tell us if she was in love! Right?' her inner Sakuraquestioned.

Sasuke sighed and pouted. "Maybe they did. My brotherwouldn't say anything at all. He probably wouldn’t even leave a note."

"Why would they abandon us? We have to go get them backotherwise Granny will mark them as rogue ninja!" Naruto yelled eager to goset things straight with his 'little sister'.

"They might be getting permission from the Hokage. Weshould go check," Kakashi said, amused at his teams panicking. He knew fora fact that the two were at the Hokage tower, but only because he saw them onhis way to the training grounds. He followed as the younger ninja ran throughthe village, where they spotted the two ninja talking to the building guards.

Sakura and Naruto pounced on Amejisuto while Sasuke triedand failed to pounce on his brother, who moved just a few inches out of his reach."Why are you doing this to us? And why did you choose Ameji?" hewhined pathetically, making the older brother cringe.

"What's going on?" Amejisuto gasped as two olderninja wrapped themselves around her legs childishly, preventing her from moving.

"Don't leave us! You're too good for him!" theycried, refusing to let go as she tried to shake them off. They were almost asbad as the weights that Rock Lee and Guy wore on their legs and arms at alltimes.

"Sensei, could you please help me?" a slightlyfrustrated Amejisuto called to Itachi, feeling awkward and crowded since herpersonal space was invaded without permission. The older Uchiha nodded and tookout two kunai knives, silently threatening to chop the invaders off. Sakura andNaruto backed away slowly after letting go of their teammate's legs.

Sasuke's eyes widened as his teammates words clicked in hismind. "Sensei!?" he staredin shock at his brother. Kakashi couldn't hold in his laughter any longer. Hestarted snickering, which was really creepy.

"Kakashi-sensei, what's so funny?" asked Sakura.

"Such gullible students. How many times have I taughtyou to see through deception and not let your emotions affect yourjudgement?" he said, making the others realise he was just messing with themand turn red with embarrassment.

Amejisuto inched close to Itachi. "Do you have any cluewhat they're talking about?" She whispered.

Kakashi overheard her and smirked under his mask. "Itold them you two were lovers and ran away to Suna."

Amejisuto choked on air, blushed and moved away from theraven in embarrassment. "Why would you tell them something likethat?"

"Because their reactions were priceless. Instantcomplaining and pouting, mostly from a certain Uchiha," everyone looked atSasuke, who looked away in embarrassment. Itachi shook his head and sighed.

"Well anyways, why are you calling him sensei?"the rosette inquired.

"I was feeling like a weak link on our team, and sinceeveryone was trained by a Kage or Sannin, I decided I would ask the only personthat matched or even exceeded their skills," she pointed at the ex-ANBUcaptain, "The legendary Itachi Uchiha."

Sakura nodded in understanding. "I was once the weakestmember and then asked Lady Tsunade to train me as a medical ninja. It's a goodidea to train with someone super skilled."

Naruto seemed a bit sad. "I never knew you felt thatway, Ameji," he sulked, feeling bad that he hadn't noticed his friend's distress.Sasuke sighed and looked away.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to train her. She's betterthan most people," he said to Itachi.

"Kakashi, we’re about to see the Hokage to getpermission of me taking her on as an Uchiha apprentice and off of Team Seven.Do you give your approval?" Itachi asked.

The copy ninja waved his hand and smiled. "Go ahead,take her away and make her a stronger woman." With a nod, the older Uchihagave a signal for the young brunette to follow him, and they disappeared intothe building.

"Something about what he said reminds me of a manrequesting a woman's father for permission to marry," Sakura laughed.

"There's some major rules about training someone not inthe Uchiha clan. I don't remember most of them, but I can't believe that hewould go through all that trouble," Sasuke mumbled.

"Jerk, it's called being nice and training someone whoasked for his help," Naruto rolled his eyes.

"Like you would know, idiot. You had to beg Jiraiya fora week and do your ‘sexy jutsu’ everyfew hours to keep him interested," the spikey-haired boy shot back.

"Guys, kiss, make up, and let's go train," theonly female team member left interrupted their soon-to-be fight, and ran backto the training fields with the boys following her.

"Not a couple!" they both shouted at the sametime.

"Sure, sure," Sakura laughed. "But it wouldbe awesome if you were. You two are the cutest!"

Kakashi followed them silently, wishing that the days whenthey cared if he was there or not could come back.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The most recent Akatsuki meeting was finally over andeveryone separated into their own teams. Most left to do some extra missions orspar outside. The leaders slipped away after watching everyone leave.

"Pain, do you really think it's a good idea to try topersuade a pacifist to join the Akatsuki?" Konan asked the orange hairedman as they walked through their hideout - a series of underground tunnels thatOrochimaru got his summoned snakes to carve – heading towards a main office.

"Itachi Uchiha is the most powerful ninja in Konohagakure.Maybe even one of the most powerful ever, and he’s still extremely young. Wemust have him," he answered.

"But Zetsu reported that he's surrounded by family andeven has an apprentice now! It would be almost impossible to get himalone."

"No, he will have times when he is away from everyone.We must strike then."

"It won't be easy," they were interrupted by theman with the orange mask walking in. His voice was about an octave lower thanwhen he was around everyone else and acting like a hyper little kid. "TheUchiha clan has strict rules for apprentices, especially if they hail fromanother strong clan. The chances of him being alone will be extremely rare.Unfortunately, I was the one who created this law. I never thought it wouldbackfire badly enough to give us trouble."

Konan and Pain narrowed their eyes. "Please explain,Madara."