Slight Edit : Read the Fic through and removed some grammatical errors etc ;; Sorry about the inconvenience.

Meantime, a Disclaimer : Naruto and characters from the series are not my property.

This Naruto Fanfic is based on a time after Tsunade became Hokage, and before Sasuke's defection to the Sound Village. In anime timeline, it would occur some time before the filler arc about the race in Tea Country involving Morino Idate. It deals with the background and reasons behind Itachi's seemingly indepen d ant decision to destroy his clan, through the introduction of characters and the use of "flash-backs", in a way that I hope, is suitably in line with the "style" of the current Naruto series :) There'll also of course, be the ninja-fights that so characte rise the Naruto series.

Note that my knowledge is based almost exclusively on the Anime series ;; plus some notes on the Manga that I've picked up here and there.

SPOILER Warning : for those to whom "Kakashi Gaiden" means nothing, please do not read further as spoilers WILL come up.

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FALL OF THE UCHIHA

Chapter 1 : The Hunter and The Prey

"She sure is making us wait a while, huh?" Naruto asked, sitting listlessly with his back against against the wall. "This mission had better be something interesting to keep us waiting this long."

"I don't know, but I hope it will be something we can handle." Sakura noted, as they waited outside the office. "Kakashi-sensei won't be with us again. We haven't seen much of him since Tsunade-sama became Hokage."

"Don't worry, Sakura, we can handle ourselves." Naruto grinned. "Right, Sasuke?"

There was no reply from the dark haired boy, who simply looked at the door, then at the clock, and finally, to the wall opposite him, his face expressionless.

Nor mally Naruto would be pissed off with Sasuke ignoring him, but not so, this time. Remembering the fight not so long ago, when Itachi beat Sasuke up before using the Mangekyo Sharingan on him, he just hoped that Sasuke wasn't thinking about his brother. He seemed different, somehow, after his discharge from the hospital.

"Come in," they heard Tsunade's voice call from behind the door.

"Finally!" The yellow-haired Genin grinned as he moved to push open the door and entered in, followed by Sakura and Sasuke.

"So, this is Kakashi's Team 7."

Sasuke's eyes shot to the corner of the room, to see the source of the voice, a female's voice, from a corner of the room, only to see a female ninja leaning in the corner, her arms folded before her, standing about 170 cm. She had long dark green hair, parted just to left of the centre, the right segment curling over one side of her face, and obscuring her features as she didn't seem to be looking at them. Interestingly, despite wearing the uniform of a Jounin, in one o f her hands she held an ANBU mask, with the mark of Konoha in the middle of its forehead.

"Hey, old lady Tsunade, who is this? I haven't seen her before... is she a new Jounin?"

"No, she isn't." Tsunade frowned slightly, hating being called old lady, but Naruto didn't ever seem to pay attention. "She's from the Matori clan of Konoha, and they were not here in the village during the Orochimaru's attack."

"The Matori clan?" Naruto scratched his head. "I've never heard of that clan before."

"I think I may have heard of them." Sakura ventured. "They were a clan previously from country of Lightning, but when they were persecuted they moved to the country of Fire about the time of the Second Hokage. They used to reside here, in Konoha, but then they left agai n for some reason." Her eyes went to the strange Jounin uncertainly. "But then... where did they go?"

"Not bad, for a Genin." The woman in the corner looked up, her emerald green eyes glittering slightly as she looked at them, watching them from under her Konoha headband. "Kakashi's reputation is well-deserved after all."

Tsunade smiled as well - that girl never ceased to impress her with her knowledge. "Yes, Sakura, you are right. Since their departure, the Matori clan has a base of their own within this country, relatively far from the Village of Konoha, although most of their skilled members are based in other countries. Many of their ninjas provide training for and serve within the ANBU squads. It is not general knowledge, but most of the hunter-nins o f Konoha are also of the Matori clan."

That made sense, Sakura thought. They filled a gap in Konoha... the Uchiha clan being in charge of the police, the Hyuuga clan as the nobility, and the Matori clan serving as the ANBU and the hunters, a clan separate from all the rest, so they would have no qualms about exterminating those from their own village, and have no problems training others to become like themselves, to be ANBU.

Sasuke frowned slightly as he looked at the Jounin, unassuming, distinctly relaxe d and even a little uninterested, a little Kakashi, yet unlike the Copy Ninja, she somehow seeming dangerous even before Tsunade introduced her formally. There was a cold glint to that eye... so, this was a Jounin, and a hunter-nin, from their own village . She must be strong, very strong...

But not as strong as Itachi...

Sasuke's gaze hardened imperceptibly, as he returned his gaze to Tsunade. "So, what has she to do with our mission?"

The woman's lips curled slightly into to a slight smile of contempt. "I think what you should be asking is, what do you have to do with my mission." The emerald eyes turned to glare at Tsunade. "You know very well that babysitting these kids will only have adverse effects on the success of this mission."

I don't like this woman, Naruto thought.

Tsunade looked pointedly at the Jounin. "I've told you already, I want him back alive, not dead. Since the war with Orochimaru and the Sand we have been having a manpower crisis, and if anyone can persuade him to come back, it'll b e these." Remembering how Naruto got her to return... and she had high hopes that Sasuke might be able to make a difference as well. "That's why you're taking them along."

The Jounin shrugged. "If you say so. I will take good care of them, but if they mess up on their own, they could well get killed." Her expression became more serious. "It took me a very long time to track this one down."

"He's not even an A-class for certain." Tsunade returned smoothly. "I understand you have your own personal reasons wanting to eliminate him, but if you aren't agreeable on Team 7 accompanying you, I would be perfectly justified in sending a standard ANBU squad after him. Or none at all, since he is not even a threat to this village. A sub-A-class missing ninja certain ly does not warrant tying up one of my Jounins for several days, and even much more so while we're in a crisis."

"You've made your point," the unknown Jounin returned, unruffled.

"What's this all about?" Naruto looked from one woman to the other. "Who are we looking for, and why?"

"Your target is a Chuunin level missing ninja, who left the village of Konoha about 7 years ago. As you know, we usually eliminate missing ninja, but this one, I hope you can get to rejoin us. If nothing else, his skills should prove invaluable to Konoha."

"He sounds like more than just an ordinary Chuunin, if you're going to this much trouble to get him to join us back." Sasuke commented drily. "And for a Jounin like her to want to remove him, he should be strong."

"He should be, but we do not know for certain yet." The Jounin commented. "But I've kept an eye out for him for almost 6 years since I became a hunter-nin, and never once have I caught a trace of him."

Sakura blinked. She did not know how skilled hunter-nin were, but for this one to have evaded one for so long... but what was a Jounin-level hunter-nin doing looking out for a mere Chuunin? Was he that dangerous?

"His name might interest at least one of you." The woman continued, and Tsunade didn't seem to mind her. "He now goes under the name of Hayuchi Kova, but that is not the real name of his clan."

Hayuchi? Sasuke blinked slightly... it rang a bell, yet it didn't. And Kova... was the name familiar? An odd tingle stole up his spine.

There was a period of silence , then Tsunade continued. "His real name is Uchiha Kova. He grew up with mainly a few close friends in his clan. He left, I understand, due to some disagreements with a Jounin about how he was managing his close friends, who were in the Jounin's team."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Another surviving Uchiha? What sort of cowardly, treacherous, desperate man would change his clan name even if he left the village?

Unless he hated his clan.

"It doesn't matter why he left, anyway." The Jounin commented. "It's over and done with. No amount of sentimentality can undo the damage that has since been. In fact, I can see no other reason why he'd let himself be found this close to Konoha, other than that he wants to be finished off as well."

"Or he wants to return." Tsunade sounded displeased by the way the Jounin was viewing things.

"We'll see about that, won't we?" The Jounin rose and moved towards the door, her back turned to Team 7 and the Hokage.

Tsunade ground her teeth in irritation, as the door opened and closed behind the Jounin, before speaking in low tones. "Sasuke, go talk to her."

"Wha...!?" Naruto and Sakura looked at her in surprise, and Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

"I don't like meeting new people." His tone was curt. "She didn't even bother to tell us her name."

"Her name is Matori Kiyone. As for you, you're good at impressing them. Perhaps she'll think that your team is less of a burden if you talk to her." Tsunade smiled slightly. "Pick a fight with her if you like. She is strong. If you impress her, she might even help make you stronger."

Sasuke looked over his shoulder at the door, then back at the Fifth Hokage, before, without saying another word, he'd turn away and head out the door.

"Hey, old lady Tsunade!" Naruto made a face and folded his arms, sulkily. "Don't I get to impress her as well?"

"I'm sure you'll manage during the mission, but I have something more important to tell you." She rolled her eyes a little. "Something I would prefer that Sasuke not know about."

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Sasuke closed the door behind him as he looked at the Jounin. "You there, the one who is not happy about bringing us along."

Kiyone turned her head slightly to look at him, as she leaned against the wall. "So it is the last of Uchihas. What do you want, boy?" Emerald eyes shone slightly with a steely tinge, as she watched him draw closer, to stand before her.

"Why do you want him dead?" The boy asked quietly. "Has he done something against your clan?"

"My business with him is none of your concern. Just know that if you intend to bring him back to help revive your clan, you had better try hard. Because if he refuses, I will finish him."

"He can help revive my clan and kill my brother, but he cannot do that if you kill him."

"If he had an interest in your clan he would not have left in the first place. He didn't come back to pay respects when your clan was destroyed. I should know, I was looking out for him."

Sasuke frowned, his teeth grinding slightly as he glared at the Jounin. She was not young, but she was not old either. Maybe three or four years older than his brother, perhaps around Iruka's age, yet she was a Jounin and a hunter-nin.

"Why did you bother with him? Did you not care to track down my brother?"

Kiyone shrugged slightly. "I might have fancied myself a match for your brother back then, but even I do not think I could have done what he did. He was only a little older than you are when he did it, you know." So much for Tsunade telling me not to bring up Itachi. The boy brought him up hims elf. Still, it was only to be expected.

The boy bowed his head slightly, and said nothing in response, except for the gnashing of his teeth.

You are weak. Why are you weak?

Itachi's voice sounded in his head, the words he had heard from his brother about a month ago, and evoking the same response as it had when he had met him.

The difference between us has not changed...

"I have improved since, but your brother probably has as well. You should know best, after all, you did encounter him just last month." She smirked slightly. "I trust he has been well?"

The dark-haired boy's chin shot up, as he stared at her in anger.. his eyes turning red as the Sharingan manifested itself in his eyes.

Kiyone grinned as she looked at him. "I was jealous of him, you know."

Sasuke started. "What?"

"Itachi was talented, very talented. My father had high hopes for him, especially in teaching him ANBU material. But that could only happen if he qualified to join ANBU." She smiled softly. "Itachi did not disappoint."

A soft breath escaped the boy's lips, then he asked coldly. "Who was your father to my brother? I have never heard mention of him."

"He was his sensei, both before he joined ANBU, and after he joined ANBU."

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"Uh huh..." Naruto still didn't look very happy that Sasuke had been sent to impress the Jounin.

"What is it?" Sakura asked.

"This Kova... before he left, he had a few close friends in his clan. At least one of them you may have heard of - Itachi."

Naruto's eyes widened. "You want us to try to make one of that rotten egg's friends join us back here in Konoha!?"

"Naruto, be quiet!" Sakura hushed him with an urgent look. "We can't let Sasuke hear about this."

Tsunade smiled slightly, then leaned forward on the desk, elbows on the table surface and hands clasped together before her face. "Yes and no. He knew Itachi, when Itachi was still a very small boy, not even a ninja. It would be many years later that he became unhappy with the way Itachi's sensei was training him and another close friend of his, an Uchiha called Shisui." She paused a little for effect. "Their sensei was a Jounin called Matori Kisane. Or more relevantly, Kiyone's father."

"I see." Sakura pursed her lips. "So this... Kova, was unhappy with that Jounin's father?" She looked at the door that Kiyone and Sasuke had left through.

"Correct. More to the point, the Third believed that it was a combination of influences from Kova and Kisane that led to the destruction of the Uchiha Clan at Itachi's hands." Tsunade's loo k turned serious. "That's why if Sasuke hears of this, he might want to kill the man that you are hunting, rather than try to bring him back."

"But wait, he's just a Chuunin, why would you want to send Kiyone along with us? We are more than a match for most ninjas, don't you know?" Naruto asked curiously.

"Yes, he was just a Chuunin before he left, and one who taught at the Academy. I understand that he spent a lot of his time training and being involved in practice spars, especially with members from oth er clans. It wasn't a concern, because he didn't seem to possess the Sharingan."

"Oh." Sakura blinked. "You mean..."

"Yes. Perhaps the Third was a little careless back then, but Shisui and Itachi, his two close friends who were younger than him, had both already mastered the Sharingan by then. So there's no reason for him not to have it during that period, even though to most of his clan, he was mediocre and ill-talented for his age. Most of the stronger members of the Uchiha clan joined the Police back t hen, rather than the Academy, and the very gifted ones like Itachi went to ANBU. It was a move that Kova was apparently unhappy with." She sighed softly, before looking serious again. "Before he left, he challenged Kisane to a fight. It could well have be en Kakashi that he challenged, except that Kakashi wasn't in the village then."

"He knows Kakashi-sensei? Why does he hate him?" Naruto exclaimed. "This guy sounds troublesome, why do we want to bring him back?"

"His older brother was Uchiha Obito, Kakas hi's team-mate, and he was killed during a mission with him. The Third believes that Kova held a grudge against Kakashi, believing that it was Kakashi's fault that his brother was killed, and hated him more because his brother gave Kakashi something that should never be given, and certainly not to the person who presumably caused his death."

Both the Genins' eyes widened. The Sharingan...

"Yes, Copy Ninja Kakashi... perhaps he would have a totally different name and reputation if not for Obito's gift. A gift Obito's brother begrudged." She sighed again. "In any case, Kova challenged Kisane, a Jounin more than twice his age, to a duel. He was beaten, but only after a long hard fight... and he tried to kill him more than once in that fight. More disturbin g ly, it is apparent from that fight that Kova has the use of the Sharingan. Kisane did not himself see it, as the boy somehow keeps it hidden, but in that battle he used techniques from many other clans of Konoha, and sand, earth, lightning element techniq ues from other villages. Back then, he probably knew even more Konoha techniques than even Kakashi, though he wasn't as adept in using them."

"Oh my.." Sakura raised her hand to her lips.

A warning glint came into Tsunade's eyes. "He is only a Chuunin, technically, but it's been 7 years since he left us, and he must have been to even more countries all around the area. This is a man who copied many techniques from his own village in secret, who managed to hide that he had use of his Sharingan. This is a man who rejected his own clan and changed his own name - unlike other members of the Uchiha clan, he has little pride in the techniques of his clan, so much that he didn't even care for their approval. Given such a disposition, it is likely that he would h ave picked up almost all forms of ninjutsu and genjutsu that he encountered in his time away from Konoha, and learnt how to use them. Even if in his Chakra use and taijutsu he remained only at Chuunin-level, which is unlikely, he could still be a very dan gerous foe."

Naruto nodded, slowly, a few thoughts running through his head.

Uchiha...

Sasuke's voice rang softly at the back of his mind. "To kill a certain man and revive my clan."

This ninja was an Uchiha... he might be able to help Sasuke, if he could be persuaded to come back.

The next moment he was looking up and grinning at Tsunade. "Haha, don't worry - Uzumaki Naruto will bring him back!"

Tsunade smirked slightly. "Oh yes, which reminds me. You have Rasengan and Sasuke has Chidori. Be sure not to use it against him unless absolutely vital - if he is undefeated after you use them on him, he will become probably even stronger when he copies those techniques."

The boy winced. "Ah... okay."

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Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Your father, huh?" He snarled softly. "So... how deep is your container?"

Kiyone's eyes widened slightly at that phrase. "Where did you hear that?"

"Did your father teach him about his container?" His words were almost a hiss, as he brought up a half-closed fist, as if gripping something in the air. "Answer me!"

"No, he did not. We are not the ones responsible for corrupting your precious brother." She told him, as she leaned back against the wall, relaxing a little. "My father never used it, but Itachi said that to me o nce, when I expressed my disapproval of him occupying so much of my father's time." Heh, this looked like one troublesome but interesting Genin...

He relaxed a little, his stance loosening up, and his fingers relaxed slightly. The gathering of Chakra into his hand, that he didn't even realise he was doing, ceased. "I see." So, her father wasn't responsible for Itachi's corruption.

"If you want to avenge yourself on him, you'll have to become stronger, boy." She smiled, amused. "As you are now, you're not even fit to join the ANBU." Itachi was only 13 when he became an ANBU squad captain... but she chose not to say it, in case it drove the clearly agitated boy into fits. "Even I have to become stronger, if I intend to be able to finish him off when we do m eet."

"Yes." Sasuke's gaze never left her.

"You look as if you are itching to test yourself against me. Is that how Kakashi motivates you kids, to rush headlong into battle against someone you cannot win against?" Still leaning, relaxed, against the wall , not caring as Sasuke tensed up again, anger showing on his face. "Someone not even fit for ANBU isn't worth my attention."

But deep down inside her, she was curious... so this was an Uchiha.

"Well, do you want to find out if you're right or wrong?" Sasuke grinned, dangerously, his eyes cold and yet burning.

"It'll be some light entertainment while we're waiting here." She closed her eyes, her hand moving to slip her mask into her jacket. "Let's see how long you'll last." Her hand returned back out into the open, to reveal her weapon.

Sasuke growled, as he saw what she held. "A brush!?" And a really tiny and short one too at that... its total length barely 3 inches long, while its tip seemed dipped in red ink. His Sharingan burned brightly in his eyes as he regarded her.

"Correct. If I strike you, you might die, so better to play safe." She spun it lightly in her hand, smirking at him. "I won't be throwing it. If you can make it leave my fingers, you win. Well, are you ready?" She stretched slightly as if to warm herself up, closing her eyes as she did so.

Sasuke's fist smashed into the wall where she had been leaning, but she was gone already, barely a heartbeat later his foot sending him whirling in the direction of the blur that was her receding figure, his other foot aiming a kick at her back.

She's fast... even with my Sharingan I can only just make out her moving outline...

His foot smashed against her upraised hand that was guarding her chest, gripping him easily although he didn't even see ho w she turned around to face him, while her other hand with the brush arced towards his chest even as he twisted, so that he was turning upside down as his other leg curled in close in preparation to deliver an upward kick to her chin. The next moment he f e lt something lock his leg in place, three fingers of the hand holding the brush gripping his knee to prevent him from kicking up. Smirking, his right hand held behind his back, out of sight from her, sent two knives hurtling from both sides of him, toward s her waist, while his left hand shot out a split second later, aiming a punch to her stomach.

"Not bad," he'd hear as he felt the hand holding his foot jerk him down, using his foot to kick away the two knives, even though he was resisting her efforts to move him.

She's strong!

But her grip on his knee had loosened as her hand with the brush darted down to block his punch to his stomach... it was just for an instant, but it was enough. Sasuke's foot shot up.

Got you!

There was a cracking sound as he felt his foot smash into something... and she'd stumble back as she pushed him away, and he landed on his feet as she took a few steps back.

"Impressive," she smiled as she looked at him, seemingly uninjured. "Take a good look at yourself."

Sasuke blinked, then looked... feeling two cool dots, as of paint drying, against his neck, one near the centre of his neck where his adam's apple was, the other one more to the side where the jugular vein was. Another red dot marked his left collarbone, two at his ches t, and one at his side.

"Hey, Sasuke... what's that red dot behind your back?" Naruto's voice was heard as the door opened behind Sasauke.

"Larynx, spine, lungs, liver, jugular vein, collarbone, kidney and heart," the Jounin straightened up. "Eight fatal points."

"Damn it!" Sasuke cursed aloud.

"And you can have your knives back." She tossed him the one lying on the ground, and made a beckoning motion, before her string pulled the other knife down from the ceiling. "That kick was rather hard. I haven't p layed such tricks for years." She smiled, a soft look coming into her eyes, as if thinking of playing it on someone else.

In that situation, she hooked one of my knives with a string and then pulled it up for my leg to kick it !?

"Hey hey, what's going on here?" Naruto ran forward as he looked at Sasuke.

"Ah... Sasuke you didn't really go and pick a fight...?" Sakura asked, her eyes wide as she stared at the Jounin. "So sorry."

"It's all right," she laughed softly as she looked at Sasuke. "He is very good... Looks like there might be some meaning in me bringing the three of you along."

"Haha," Naruto laughed, putting a hand behind his head. "Sasuke must have shown you something, huh?" He paused and blinked as he noticed something. "Sasuke?"

Sasuke still didn't move, his expression grim.

You are weak. Why are you weak?

I must become strong.

"Oi, Sasuke?" He heard Naruto's voice ring in his ears, before turning to look at him sullenly.

"I'm fine. Let's get going."

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Tsunade watched as the door closed behind the two departing Genins.

Well if anyone can bring him back that, it can only be them...

She looked over the file once more, or more specifically, the footnotes that the Third Hokage left, which were dated from about the time the boy left the village. She knew the Third loved many of the people of the village as if they were his own family, but even then, the depth in which he wrote about this Kova was astounding.

'He reminds me of Orochimaru, given his obsession with techniques and in his desire to surpass Kakashi. But he is different. Apart from his seeming lack of talent, he does not like to kill, even during missions. He usually prefers to go on reconnaissance and spying missions, rather than those that involve a high chance of violent contact with the enemy.'

'In all his doings, I believe he seeks to become a stronger ninja, because a strong ninja can achieve his objective without being detected, and when meeting the enemy can defeat without having to kill. That is a thought th at not even some of the strongest Jounin I have known of have considered. If he can attain this level, it would be good, but he does not seem to possess the talent for that - after all, he passed the Chuunin exam practically on sheer determination.'

'Even his clan does not recognise him, but I think he may have had something to do with the makings of the two most talented genius ninjas in the Uchiha clan, Shisui and Itachi, who were both close to him. But they have drifted apart since their many missions outside of Konoha with Kisane. He seems upset by this, but I hear he is affable with the students and other teachers at the Academy. Perhaps he will find new friends there.'

And notes from about one year later...

'Kisane told me he confronted himself and his team, demanding that Itachi not be allowed to join ANBU. Shisui disagreed vehemently with his view, but interestingly, Itachi himself made no comment. He even went so far as to ask Fugaku (Itachi and Sasuke's father) to forbid Itachi from joining ANBU , but was thrown out of the Police Headquarters.'

'Perhaps the loss of Obito has translated into the creation of two talented ninja that will serve Konoha well for many years to come, and maybe even Kova himself will be, if he truly becomes as strong as he wishes to be. I will have to ask him more about Obito, and about why he feels Itachi should not be part of ANBU.'

From a few days later...

'Kisane's report is disturbing. This boy has apparently learnt many of the techniques from other clans, and his us e of the Sharingan has gone unobserved by everyone. Even Kisane himself could not detect his use of the Sharingan, but he must have it or he would not have been able to copy the techniques used by the other clans. I might have guessed he would have resort ed to such things to exceed Kakashi.'

'His talent is also surprising, how he kept it concealed. Kisane had a hard time defeating him, although he was restricted in not using his clan techniques lest they be copied, and in not wishing to use his killing techniques on him. Still, he must be very far above an ordinary Chuunin's abilities to hold his own for so long. I will go and visit his home where he is recovering from the fight with Kisane.'

And barely a day after...

'It is disturbing to find that he is missing. His talent is also now a source for concern, as he has left the village, and even if he truly does not desire to kill, he has so many secrets of Konoha in his keeping that it would be unacceptable to not send either ANBU or the hunters after him. Itachi and Shisui both have no idea where he may have gone to, though they've both admitted that he asked them to leave with him, and Shisui tried to restrain him, to no avail. Itachi's reaction, or rather lack thereof, to such a development is disturbing .'

'What a pity that when we have finally come to recognise his talent and potential, he is gone. I only hope that he will not depart from his desire and become a ruthless killer like other exiled ninja.'

And dated a few years later...

'The Uchiha clan is no more. As I look over this files I wonder if he knew.'

'There has been no trace of him since he left. I was right in assuming him not a trouble maker. Though who knows how many techniques he must have mastered by now.'

'Perhaps he knew what he created in Shisui and Itachi, something that none of us was able to see, and feared it... It could have been partly his early actions, that created a tragedy that he could not avert, and though he tried so hard, no one listened, or saw it coming.'

'I must make sure that Sasuke does not follow after his brother.'

Tsunade sighed as she closed the file.

Why had he returned? Why did he make no effort to keep himself hidden? Did he intend to stay for good? What was he capable of?

The contents of Sarutobi's written notes repeated softly in her mind. "... he created a tragedy he could not avert, and though he tried so hard, no one listened..."

Tsunade shrugged and set the file away. As always, there were other matters for a Hokage to attend to. She idly wondered how Sarutobi had always managed to be as concerned for individuals in the village as he had been.

--- End of Chapter 1 ---

Well that's about it for the chapter 1.

As you can guess, the makings of the Matori clan and their position as ANBU trainers and , the existence of the character Kova, and in fact most of these series of events, are just speculation. For those who are wondering as well, the use of the names Kiyone an d Kova are mainly two of my favourite characters that for some reason, keeping cropping up in the things I write ;; I hope you don't mind.

In meantime, being the non-Japanese literate person that I am, I made up the names Matori and Hayuchi, so please th ere's no need to make sense of it, and if they make sense (unlikely) it's just a fluke. If you haven't already got it, Hayuchi, when rearranged to put the Ha behind, sounds Yuchiha, which is only a "Y" sound away from Uchiha.

Feel free to post comments as reviews or email me at on if you'd like for this story to be continued.

Meantime, stay cool and thanks for reading this!

Edit : Sorry about the typos in my first posting ;; Thanks