A fan - favorite is 'Shadows and Petals'. This one has a more complex plot. Itachi's past and his role in the ninja world are intertwined with his new - found connection to Sakura. The story is full of action, drama, and of course, the budding relationship between the two.
One common theme is redemption. For example, Sasuke often has a journey of redeeming himself after his dark turn. Another theme is friendship, like how Naruto's unwavering friendship for Sasuke is a central part. Also, the idea of sacrifice, as seen with Itachi's great sacrifice for the village and his brother.
Another storyline could be a time - travel fanfiction. Sakura somehow travels back in time and meets a young Itachi. She tries to prevent the Uchiha massacre by working with Itachi. In this process, she might also learn more about the Uchiha clan and their secrets, which she can later use to help Naruto in their present - day battles.
The potential for unique storylines is also a strong element. Since their relationship is not canon, fanfic writers can create all kinds of scenarios. They can put Itachi and Sakura in different situations, like teaming up on a dangerous mission or having a chance encounter in a peaceful village. This allows for a lot of creativity in the fanfic world.
One great Sakura - Itachi fanfic could be those that focus on their relationship in a more platonic or battle - partnership way. For example, there might be fanfics where they team up to fight a common enemy in the Naruto universe. Another type could be ones that explore their different perspectives on the shinobi world and how they interact based on that.
In fanfiction, their relationships could be reimagined in many ways. For example, Itachi could have a more mentoring role towards Naruto, sharing his wisdom from a different perspective. Sakura might be more assertive in her relationship with Sasuke, not just being the passive admirer. And Sasuke could find a new sense of brotherhood with Naruto that goes beyond their rivalry, all because of different plot twists and character developments that fanfiction writers can create.
There's 'A New Path'. This fanfiction delves into an alternate universe where Itachi didn't have to make such a tragic sacrifice. Sakura becomes a key figure in helping Sasuke come to terms with his family's past and his relationship with Naruto. The story is filled with character development and some interesting new jutsu concepts.
There would be other fans who might be intrigued. They like to explore different 'what - if' scenarios in fanfiction. They would see it as a creative way to explore the characters in a new light, even if it goes against the canon. However, they would also be aware that it's just a fictional alternative and not the real Naruto story.
I'm not sure if it's a particularly popular type. There are so many different kinds of Naruto fanfiction out there, focusing on various relationships and scenarios. While the idea of Itachi and Sakura interacting in this way might be interesting to some, it may not be as widespread as other more common pairings or plotlines.
For Sakura, she could develop by learning from Itachi's sharingan abilities. Maybe she figures out a way to incorporate some of the perception and prediction aspects into her own fighting style. This would make her a more versatile fighter in battles.