Naruto: Blind

"This is where it gets difficult," she said, running over the different taijutsu training concepts she had thought of in her mind; granted she had plenty of time to think it over the past month and a bit, but still the ideas were scarce. She had hoped to find time to get away to the library to perhaps research the matter further, but Sasuke's rehab had taken most of her time. Rehab was getting on remarkably well, but it would be a couple more months before she could say that he could manage completely on his own.

"Difficult how?" he asked when she did not elaborate. She cursed herself for her tendency to get distracted.

"I would say that your hearing has sharpened over the past month, and I was hoping to incorporate that factor into the training; basically, I want you to learn the different attacks I will launch at you by their respective sounds," Sakura told, him slowly, still running over the concept in her mind. The idea was still vague in her mind and she wasn't sure if it would work, "I won't lie to you, this is still in theory, but I think it'll work. It'll also enhance your hearing so that you are easily able to pick up on subtler sounds, even if it doesn't work that well for taijutsu. The end results of this training should be that even if I make variations in my attacks, you should be able to recognize the different movements' sound and predict the attack. This will take a long time, and even with practice, my estimate is that you'll only be able to guess my movements about ninety percent of the time."

"And how am I to hear your attacks?" he asked her, the irritated tone fading from his voice.

"Rustle of clothing, clinking of baubles and other things that I may have on me—coins, jewelry, the kunai and shuriken colliding in my weapons pouch," she replied lightly, "Things like that. Even if your opponent was fighting naked—which we won't be covering—you should still be able to pick up on the disruption of air molecules."

He seemed amused at the notion, and Sakura smiled slightly.

"Will I be learning these movements through listening to routine practice, or will you be trying to hit me?" he asked, slightly wary, as if expecting her to attack him right at that instant.

"Just the movements to begin with," she laughed at his suspicious nature, "Remember, Sasuke, this is only the first day. Maybe if you can guess a majority of my movements by the end of the day, I'll let you try and hit me again. –Oh, and don't hold back again."

She gave a light laugh as the back of Sasuke's neck turned red in embarrassment; she had a feeling that he wouldn't hesitate next time.

"The host is still weak," came the quiet and calm voice, but there was an undertone of irritation in it, "To remove the demon now would only kill the both of them; that cannot happen. What are you going to do about it?"

Itachi's crimson irises shifted over the speaker, who was shrouded in the shadows of the dark room. Itachi could barely make out the outline of the form, but distinct indigo blue eyes, stood out from the shadows. Akatsuki's leader—a man that Itachi secretly loathed, though outwardly respected.

"I shall then strengthen the host," Itachi replied equally as calm, but lacking the irritation, replacing it with dislike, "When the time is right, we shall then take the demon."

"Very well," the figure waved a dismissive hand, "The brat is yours to care for."

Itachi wouldn't have worded the statement in that manner. 'Caring' for the brat sounded too emotionally attached. Instead of commenting, he averted his eyes to the ground, giving a small respectful bow.

"I take my leave."

Straightening up again, he walked toward the heavy iron door, ignoring the contemptuous gaze that was boring into his back. He held a deep resentment to the other man in the room due to the fact that he had been ordered to stop pursuing Kyuubi for the time being, told plainly that they could not hope to acquire it until they had obtained more of the other tailed beasts. Even though Itachi had no interest whatsoever in the Six-Tailed Weasel he had brought back to the hideout, he had been ordered to collect the Jinchuuriki, whether it was the demon of his choice or no. Needless to say he had been very angry and taken his rage out on a local village, which, as a result, no longer existed.

The door groaned open as he pulled on the handle, and a muffled shout was emitted as someone tumbled in the room from outside. Looking down at the pathetic lump that was lying on the floor, he recognized the girl that was the weasel's host—he hadn't yet found out her name. There was a pause in the room, and the girl picked herself up from the floor, not looking at either of the room's occupants, embarrassed.

He looked at her for a moment, noting that she was still slender and frail; she had spent most of her time over the last three weeks with healers, treating her of numerous diseases that had come with being locked up in a room for as long as she had been. He had seen her a number of times, checking up on both the Bijuu's and Jinchuuriki's state, and she only seemed to feel secure around him, opposed to the other members of the Akatsuki. Also, she had taken to doing menial chores for him, and hanging around his chambers when he was busy. Because the girl was still as thin and frail as before, the red-clouded Akatsuki robe appeared much larger on her than it actually was—at least she was clean now.

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