Okay, the beginning of a long awaited sequel. I am so sorry to the people who were waiting but I didn't just lose my muse. It ran away! So then I had to go through the chasing, kidnapping, chasing again, kidnapping again, and then the bribing into co-operation. So all in all it took me forever. Enough excuses and on with the story :)

-Prologue-

-Time skip 3 years-

"Itachi! Can you get Akito please, it's time for dinner."

"Hn" he mumbled, trudging into the training grounds to retrieve his son.

Apparently Akito was quite fond of the outdoors; whenever he wasn't sleeping or eating he was waddling around the training grounds inspecting his surroundings with a curious eye.

Searching the grounds he quickly located his son underneath a tree, his small hands trying to clasp at the falling leaves as they wisped past him.

"Akito, come here. It's time for supper."

The two year old jumped up from his place on the ground and ran unsteadily towards his father, dirty feet padding onto the dried mud and grass.

"Look daddy, look what I found!"

"What did you find Akito?"

"Look, it's a worm."

"Akito, you know your mother doesn't like you bringing bugs into the house. Put it down and go wash up for dinner."

"But-"

"No, come on. Inside."

-Konoha-

"Hey Teme!"

"What do you want Dobe?"

"I came to see you"

"Why?"

'I really, really, don't want to be the one to tell him this. But it's Tsunades orders, and I guess it would be better if he heard it from a friend.'

"What? Can't I just pop by for a visit every once in a while?"

"No. Spill it Dobe, what're you hiding from me?"

"I'm not-"

"It's written all over your face Dobe, why did you really come to see me?"

"Well Tsunade, sh-she-"

"Stop stalling and just tell me already."

"Okay, she said that we have the mission of retrieving Sakura-"

"Then why are we standing here?"

"I was getting to that before you interrupted me. We have to retrieve Sakura, but if we fail this time... Sakura will be classed as a missing nin and we are to kill her on sight."

"What?!"

Akiko
From Japanese 晶 (aki) "sparkle "bright" or "autumn" combined with (ko) "child".

Just a short prologue but it's all my brain would squeeze out. But have no fear there is more to come :) Reviews are appreciated with the reward of giant, chocolate chip filled, hypothetical cookies.

Btw I am in the process of writing the next chapter right now so feel free to PM me or review if you have any ideas or reasonable requests :)

Ja Ne
Masami