River Retrieval

### The Journey Begins

The sun had barely risen when we gathered at the village gates. The crisp morning air was filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. This wasn't just another training exercise; it was our first real mission outside the Hidden Leaf Village, and the weight of that responsibility settled heavily on my shoulders.

Naruto was practically bouncing with energy, his wide grin infectious. "This is going to be great!" he exclaimed, punching the air in excitement.

Sasuke, on the other hand, wore his usual mask of indifference, but I could see the determination simmering beneath his cool exterior. Even Itachi, our ever-composed leader, seemed more focused than usual, his eyes scanning the horizon as if already planning several steps ahead.

"Everyone ready?" Itachi's voice was calm, yet there was an underlying seriousness that brought a hush over our group.

"Ready as ever, nii-san," I replied, trying to match his calmness. My heart, however, was pounding with a mixture of anticipation and nerves.

We set off, our footsteps in sync as we moved through the village gates and into the dense forest beyond. The trees towered over us, their leaves forming a thick canopy that let through only slivers of sunlight. The path ahead was long—three days of running to reach the Land of Rivers—and the reality of our mission slowly began to sink in.

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### The First Night

We ran tirelessly throughout the day, only stopping briefly for rest and to hydrate. By nightfall, we found a small clearing where we could set up camp. The boys quickly pitched the tents while I gathered firewood, the familiar tasks helping to settle my nerves.

Itachi moved with practiced ease, setting up a perimeter around our camp. His presence was reassuring, a calm anchor in the midst of the unfamiliar surroundings.

After a quick dinner, we settled into our watch rotations. Sasuke took the first shift, Naruto the second, Itachi the third, and I would take the last. My body ached from the day's travel, and as soon as I laid down in my tent, sleep quickly overtook me.

But it wasn't long before I was abruptly awakened by something—or someone—shaking me. My reflexes, honed by months of training, kicked in, and I reacted instinctively. I grabbed the intruder's wrists, twisting them as I pushed the person down onto the ground. In the dim light, I could make out a familiar figure, but my half-asleep mind didn't register who it was until I heard the soft, composed voice.

"Sakura…"

The sound of his voice jolted me fully awake. My eyes snapped open, and I found myself straddling Itachi, our faces mere inches apart. My heart stuttered as I stared down into his dark, endless eyes, which were wide with surprise—a rare display of emotion from him. The realization of our position hit me like a ton of bricks. My hands were pressed against his chest, and I could feel the steady, strong beat of his heart beneath my palm.

My face flamed with embarrassment, and I quickly scrambled off him, muttering apologies. "I-I'm so sorry, Itachi-san!" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. My cheeks burned hotter when I remembered our accidental kiss not too long ago. The memory made this moment even more mortifying.

Itachi's expression was unreadable, as always, but his gaze was intense, as if he was studying me. For a moment, neither of us moved, the tension thick in the small space of the tent. I could feel the warmth radiating from his body, the faint scent of pine and something distinctly him filling my senses.

Finally, he broke the silence, his voice calm and soft. "Be more careful next time," he said, his tone gentle, but there was something else there—something I couldn't quite place.

He reached out and flicked my forehead in that familiar gesture, the touch surprisingly tender. The simple action was enough to break the tension, and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

I mumbled another apology, too embarrassed to say anything else, and hurriedly exited the tent. The cool night air hit my flushed skin like a balm, and I tried to shake off the lingering feelings of warmth and the ghost of his touch.

But even as I took up the last watch earlier than scheduled, my thoughts kept circling back to that moment. The feel of his lean, strong body beneath mine, the heat in his gaze, and the softness in his voice—it all left a lasting impression that I couldn't easily shake off.

---

### A Quiet Morning

The next morning, the air was filled with the scent of dew and the soft sounds of nature waking up. Despite the awkwardness of the night before, I forced myself to focus on the mission. After a quick breakfast, we packed up and continued on our journey, following the river that would lead us to the Land of Rivers.

The day passed in a blur of running and silent contemplation. The landscape changed as we traveled deeper into unfamiliar territory, the trees becoming denser and the air cooler. My thoughts kept drifting back to Itachi, the subtle looks he gave me, the way his fingers brushed against mine as he handed me a water canteen. Each small touch sent a spark through me, making it difficult to concentrate on anything else.

By the time we reached the Black River just before dusk, we were all eager to rest. The river was wide and calm, its surface reflecting the darkening sky. We set up camp again, and this time, the boys went to bathe while I stayed back to prepare our meal.

As the night fell, the stars began to peek through the canopy, their faint light casting a gentle glow over the clearing. Once the boys returned, I decided it was my turn to bathe. The river water was cold against my skin, but it felt refreshing after the long day of travel. I submerged myself, letting the water wash away the day's fatigue.

But as I soaked, a sudden ripple disturbed the calm surface. My senses went on high alert, and I quickly gathered lightning chakra in my hands, ready to defend myself. The ripples grew stronger, and soon, tentacles began to rise from the water—a chakra beast, resembling a monstrous octopus, emerged from the depths.

My heart raced, but I forced myself to stay calm. "**Lightning Release: Lightning Net Technique!**" I cast the jutsu, creating a web of lightning to trap the beast's limbs. It thrashed violently, trying to break free, but I wasn't going to let it win.

"**Lightning Release: Lightning Petal Storm!**" I followed up with another jutsu, sending a storm of electrified petals slicing through the tentacles. But the beast wasn't done yet. It released a thick, black cloud into the air, trying to obscure my vision.

I immediately activated my Byakugan Vision and Sharingan Vision, my senses sharpening to cut through the smoke. But then, a second set of tentacles shot out from the water—another beast had joined the fray. I braced myself for impact, realizing too late that I was outnumbered.

Just as the second beast's tentacles were about to strike, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me, pulling me out of harm's way. My heart leapt into my throat as I was yanked out of the water and pressed against a warm, solid chest.

Itachi.

His arms held me securely, his body shielding mine from the attack. I could feel the steady beat of his heart against my back, his breath warm against my ear. For a moment, everything else faded—the danger, the mission, the cold water—all I could focus on was the heat of his body and the safety I felt in his arms.

"**Amaterasu,**" he murmured, and the black flames erupted from his eyes, consuming the second beast in an instant. The power of the technique was awe-inspiring, and I couldn't help but marvel at his strength. But more than that, I was hyper-aware of how close we were, the feel of his breath on my skin, the way his arms tightened around me protectively.

He held me for a moment longer than necessary, his chest rising and falling steadily against my back. Then, he gently set me down on the riverbank, covering me with a towel before stepping back. The sudden loss of his warmth made me shiver, though I wasn't sure if it was from the cold or something else entirely.

"I could have handled it myself," I mumbled, embarrassed by how vulnerable I must have looked.

He just looked at me, his gaze unreadable, but there was a softness in his eyes that hadn't been there before. "Be more careful, Sakura," he said, his voice low, almost tender. Then, with a small flick to my forehead, he turned and walked away, his shoulders slightly tense.

As he left, I noticed a faint flush on his cheeks—a sight that made my heart skip a beat. Was it possible that he was as affected by our proximity as I was? The thought sent a thrill through me, even as I tried to push it away.

---

### The Mission

The next morning, we packed up and continued on our journey, the previous night's events still fresh in my mind. I couldn't stop replaying the moment in the water, the way his arms had felt around me, the warmth of his breath against my ear. It made it difficult to focus, but I forced myself to push those thoughts aside as we neared our destination.

The mission details had seemed simple enough—retrieve a cart of stolen goods from a couple of rogue ninjas and bring it back