Title: Akatsuki's hope

By: Namikaze Uzumaki Naruto

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot and OC's.

Pairing: ItaNaru, one-sided SasuNaru, Many one-sided x Naru, NejiGaa, SasoDei, ShinoKiba, OCShikaOC, ChouIno.


Sasuke sighed, irritably, as he glared at the gathered group. It had been three years since his defection, and two months since his return to Konoha after killing his brother. The council. Civilians and most of the shinobi's welcomed him back with open arms, more then happy to have the last Uchiha back in the village.

The high ranking shinobi's didn't really care much for the traitor's return, one in particular went out of his way to avoid the Uchiha, and it was the one everyone thought would have been the most happy. Uzumaki Naruto.

"I don't know what his problem is." Sakura crossed her arms over her none existed chest. "You'd think he get over his petty jealousy and move on" Everyone turned and glared at the pink haired girl for her comment, before rolling their eyes.

Kakashi closed his book and shook his head, "You've got it all wrong Sakura." The gray haired jounin sighed, closing his eyes as if the mere thought of the reason for the blondes disappearance upset him, "Naruto is not avoiding Sasuke because of petty jealousy as you assume. He's avoiding Sasuke because he made the biggest mistake of his life."

Sasuke scoffed, "And what was that?"

Opening his eyes, he pinned the Uchiha avenger with a steely glare that froze the teens who were unfortunate enough to have seen the brief glance before the charcoal colored eyes flitted away, "Uchiha Itachi didn't massacre the Uchiha clan, Sasuke."

Everyone froze and turned to stare at the copy cat shinobi, "What do you mean? I saw him..." The raven trailed off, "He even admitted to doing it."

"He did what every shinobi does Sasuke, he lied."

Sasuke shook his head, "Then who killed them? If not Itachi, who killed my clan?"

Kakasbi sighed, "No one did Sasuke. The Uchiha clan is very much alive and very much NOT in Konoha." Running a hand through his hair, Kakashi glanced towards the sky, "When you were seven, the council were talking about killing the Uchiha clan because they were getting too powerful and when they found out about Itachi's betrothal, they point blank refused to acknowledge the union, but that didn't stop the clan from going along with it. Itachi would meet with his fiancee and they would spend their nights together talking and getting to know each other. Your mother loved this person very much, so did your father and the rest of your clan. They approved of the union and wanted to keep their promise to the fiancee's parents, who were both close friends of the clan. Well, when the council found out that the Uchiha's were going to go through with the marriage, they ordered several ANBU's to massacre the clan on false claims."

Gasp were heard and everyone glanced at Sasuke, whose jaw was hanging open before focusing on Kakashi as he began speaking again.

"But it's a shame for them, that the ANBU team that they called in was Itachi, his fiancee and two of their friend and instead of killing the clan as they were suppose to, they told Fugaku about what the council were planning and using a secret passive build beneath the Uchiha clan that leads towards the valley of the end, they escaped.

Itachi and the other three returned and using a strong genjutsu they set it on the clan ground. The three other ANBU's left to report to the Sandaime, while Itachi stayed back to finish the illusion, but you appeared and ruined everything. So to make sure the council wouldn't find out, Itachi lied to you and made you see what he wanted you to see. And that is the truth. That is the reason, Naruto can't stand to be near you."

"Why?" Sasuke whispered, "What does this have to do with Naruto? It's not like..."

Kakashi raised his arm stopping Sasuke from continuing, "No Sasuke, he knew your clan and he loved them, like they loved him. Uzumaki Naruto was Uchiha Itachi's fiancee. Naruto was on the same ANBU team as Itachi and the one who helped them escape. Naruto was the one who made sure the council wouldn't be able to touch you once Itachi left the village. He left ANBU and went to the academy to keep an eye on you. He made himself the class dead last so he'd be on the same team as you, to protect you should you need it. I was assigned as your sensei because I was the only other person who knew the truth aside from Naruto and Itachi's teammates, the Hokage and Iruka. Everything was done to make sure you were kept save, then you left the village, straight to Orochimaru and Naruto couldn't use his true strength in fear of seriously injuring you, so he let you go, but still he protected you. After all you were his friend and was going to be his brother, When news of your returning was heard, Naruto was happy, until he heard that you killed Itachi. He left the village for several weeks and when he returned, well, now you know why he wished to stay away."

Hinato wrapped her arms around herself. "Poor Naruto-kun, he must be hurting a lot. To lose his love like that..." the Hyuga heir closed her eyes. She couldn't even begin to imagine how much pain her former crush was going through. And what made it even more painful was the fact they'd been together since they were young.

"Naruto-kun and Itachi-san made a lot of sacrifices for Sasuke." Neji turned and narrowed his pale eyes on the so-called last Uchiha, "And you really don't deserve their everything they've done for you." the Hyuga genius didn't care if Sasuke hadn't been aware of everything, just the fact that Sasuke did nothing but hurt the kind blond did nothing but upset Neji.

Sasuke's wide eyed stare did nothing to ease the ire of Naruto's closest friends, "Why wasn't I told of this before? Everyone knew what I wanted to do, why didn't you tell me, you knew what I wanted to achieve, hell everyone knew."

Kakashi shook his head, "It was a secret and was only know to the four ANBU who accepted the job, the three elders, the Sandaime and myself, though I suppose even Jiraiya-sama knew since he was the one Naruto would send to pick up Itach's report when he couldn't go, which was rare." Kakashi smiled, "Naruto dropped whatever it was at the chance of being able to spend some time with Itachi. I remember he even left a meeting with the Damiyo in order to meet with Itachi, it was a good thing the Damiyo was a good friend of Naruto and understood what was going on, so he rescheduled the meeting for another day."

Ino turned sensing the familiar chakra presence coming towards them, "Naruto!" she called out, causing the rest of the group to turn as well, only to blink in shocked surprised at the sight that met their eyes.

Dressed in a pair of black knee length pants, a long sleeve black fishnet shirt over a blood red tank top. Around the blonds neck was a necklace Sasuke recognized right away having seen Itachi with it on all the time, when he was a kid. Blue eyes looked darker then usual and blond hair, free of the usual messy spikes fell around the small males face, framing it perfectly before ending around a slender neck. Another thing that was different about the blond was his complexion, which looked more light then usual. Covering his feet was knee length black boots.

"Naruto. damn man you look like a chick!" Kiba yelled, half shocked.

Glancing at each member, Naruto smiled, "He should be far enough from the village, now which is why I'm here now. Naruto wanted to convey his love to each of you but he couldn't stay anymore, he told me to let you know that without Itachi, life is meaningless, so he's going to join his meaning for existing." after those words, the clone disappeared, leaving a shocked group.

"Naruto's going to join Itachi?" Ino questioned, before her eyes widened, "Is he going to commit suicide in order to be with him?" blue eyes turned towards Kakashi with hesitation, "Would he really?"

Kakashi nodded, "Let's go, we need to find him and stop him. Hurry, we need to speak to Tsunade-sama before we leave." the group nodded before following the famed copy cat shinobi.


Tsuzuku

(To be continued)


To start I wanna wish the person who shares the same birthday as me, a happy birthday, so Sarutobi Asuma, Happy Birthday. Birthday wishes for Uzumaki Naruto and Mitarashi Anko who shares hers with my brother. Yay, October birthdays, they aren't much of them.

*This is AU, obviously, the Uchiha clan are alive after all and the Akatsuki is good. More will be explained about them later.*

Tenma