AN: So I've had this one going progressively for a while now as a biiiiiig doc on my laptop. I think it's going to turn into another long fic - so you're warned!

Also, everything belongs to Kishimoto and I own nothing! There will be some similarities between the events in the fic and basically the very beginnings of Akatsuki's formation. I've kind of manipulated it a little - so I hope that's not going to bother people.

AND YOU NEED TO KNOW, basically, In my head and for the this ENTIRE fic, the Anbu forces are pretty much like the police force, each village having their own sort of regime. In some villages they're respected and decent people, others, they're more violent and forceful. It depends on the village but I hope it'll make sense.

I have no idea what for or why I started this, but I tend to find that those are the ones that I enjoy writing the most .

I apologise for any OOC'ness, but we are in fiction-land and anything is possible.

It's not going to be Pein x Konan (as much as I really wanted it to) - it's my goal at some point! But it probably isn't going to happen. It's already gotten so long and I think this fic will probably end up setting up for a sequel at this rate. So yeah.

All the warnings you could have!

Many thanks.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

(Prologue)

KONOHA.

The siren was wailing, red lights illuminating every section of the corridor in the facility. The mayhem of security guards were yelling into their receivers, commands and confirmations alike. The facility was in chaos, half of its people were frozen in shock while the other half carried their fear. They used it to seize control of the situation or used it to run away.

In his office, Fugaku Uchiha's hands pushed against the table in fury, his eyes blankly staring at the same patch of the surface. Though his thoughts remained calm and rational - logical - his heartbeat was increasing by the minute. Too many flaws...

"Dear?" His wife placed her hand close to his on the table, their little fingers touching. It was a small but comforting gesture, her finger gradually crossing over his. Her tone had been patient, but he knew she was prompting him to speak. They were waiting on him to make a decision - what to do with Them. And they were running out of time.

He turned to his wife, valuing her opinion the most.

He'd been through the scenarios in his head, thought through every imaginable process he could imagine and talked to each and every one of his advisers and officers alike. He'd had enough time to secure a plan - he'd spent the past five years doing it - but he didn't think it'd come quite like this. Not so hurriedly, and certainly not on someone elses terms.

He would've liked to hear Itachi's view - his eldest son - but that would likely cause more damage than good. He was hard to get in touch with now - Anbu had made sure of that. He couldn't make the decision on his own - and it wasn't his decision to make. But Itachi wasn't there any more and he hadn't made the necessary precautions to inform the clan of what to do in the event of this nature.

Fugaku had to make a choice - one that he could only hope would be the one that Itachi would agree with. He was locked somewhere between condemnation and salvaging what he could of a sticky situation.

"What would he say?" He murmured, glancing at Mikoto, his wife. He didn't ask her what he'd do, because as a mother it was her job to protect her sons. She was a mother, first and always. She'd told him that when Itachi had been born, and he'd accepted it because he would always be the clan leader, first and foremost. Their duties were to others, not themselves, but Fugaku sometimes thought they were stronger because of it.

She averted her eyes to think. She was quiet for a minute, no doubt sifting through her personal thoughts of their family, their future and the decisions they'd made and the consequences that would no doubt come. And Sasuke.

As a father, Fugaku had always been the one to instil judgement and logic - right and wrong - into their sons' heads, but his wife had always been there to turn it into a positive thing. He was man of responsibility, a dutiful man by nature - but his family was his pride. He wouldn't let them down by making a bad decision. He knew his sons - and now, he already knew what to do.

"That we're fools for allowing them to get so close" She voiced, quietly as if to herself. "and then...they need to be moved. They can't stay here - maybe...to Jiraiya? They wouldn't think we'd be so careless. Right under their noses like that...but..." She trailed off, uncertain, but he was glad that she'd thought the same. They needed to be moved.

"He won't have the space" He murmured, doubt in his eyes. "Or the time..." A shadow blew through the window and Kakashi was the first to greet it. They clashed with sparks of silver but quickly drew apart.

"Sasuke" Mikoto was instantly horrified, pulling an odd face at which Fugaku almost smiled. He loved it when his wife pulled those faces - Sasuke would do the same.

"Why on earth are you-" The boy crossed the room with the swiftness of his father and placed a note face down on the table.

"From Itachi" He said quietly. "But he's here - so burn it when you're done. He said to"

"Itachi w-..." Mikoto faltered, confused. Going directly to Sasuke was something that Itachi avoided at all costs.

"His intermediate is dead. He's running out of options - it had to be done. Please?" He nudged the letter closer to his father and Fugaku flipped it, reading.

He began writing things down on separate bits of paper, his eyes flitting from one to the other as he called out names and handed out missions. The men and women in the room gradually decreased, and Sasuke began to feel a chill. Fugaku quickly gathered the remaining sheets up and passed the bundle across the table.

"Kakashi - take these. See Tsunade gets them" Kakashi gave a slow nod bundling the notes into his jacket pocket and watching as Fugaku began to set the rest of them aflame in the metal bin.

"The warnings..." Kakashi said doubtfully. The alarms were still blaring as the shouting continued outside their solid-locked walls. "I'd rather send another in my stead, and remain here" Mikoto shook her head in rejection of the idea.

"No" Fugaku agreed. "We're trusting you to deliver those - your responsibility after that will be Sasuke. That's what we're trusting you to do"

Mikoto slipped her hand fully into Fugaku's in silent thanks.

"Sasuke?" She encouraged. The teenager looked at her in confusion. "You're to go with Kakashi"

"No" Downright refusal. A stubborn trait hailed from Fugaku himself. "I'm staying with you"

"Sasuke" Fugaku said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Go with Kakashi. Stay with Tsunade - we'll send word when this has blown over"

"But-" Sasuke started, defiantly. Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder and he stopped, his face setting into the unbreakable mask they were famed for.

"Hey" His mothers voice was soft and encouraging, and for a moment Fugaku wondered if she'd challenge his decision. "We'll see you soon, ok? Itachi, too" Sasuke evidently trusted himself to do nothing but nod. She smiled at her youngest, brushing her hand over his cheek like he was a child again. And that's when Sasuke's stomach dropped.

"No" He said again, grasping his mothers thin fingers. "I can help. I can find Itachi and we can-"

"No - Sasuke, please" Mikoto pulled her son into a hug that he almost - out of habit - pulled away from. But her hold was firm - and then, suddenly, Fugaku was there too - a minus-one-family-hug. Sasuke's eyes pricked as his head began to spin.

This feels too much like a goodbye, he thought.

"Itachi's situation is complicated, you know that" Mikoto whispered to him. "It's easier if you stay away - like he said. He must trust you to do that - else he wouldn't have trusted you with the note" The room echoed with the sounds and the door was repeatedly bashed.

Their hug broke, Fugaku gathering up his weapons and passing a few small and sharp ones to Sasuke for his pockets. He'd grown up so much - hardly the boy Fugaku remembered him being. Practically a soldier, now.

"I'll see you soon. You understand?" Sasuke nodded blankly and Fugaku allowed himself to ruffle the boys hair - something he used to do when his boys were younger and hadn't discovered hair gel. "Good. Kakashi?" The man leapt up onto the window, ready. "Keep in sight of each other" He said, to each and both of them alike. "And stay safe" He finished, stepping closer to the window to say goodbye, Mikoto at his side.

"You too, Mikoto. Now" He allowed two seconds for her to be confused and then kissed her quivering lips.

"I'm staying" She whirled out of his grasp with that fierce look she saved for battle - snatching a sword from the side. "My place is here, with you. With the clan" She said, but he knew it wasn't. The banging became louder, more persistent. He doubled his efforts.

"Mother first and always" He recited as he snatched her back to his side, slipping the sword from her shaking hands and kissing her worried brow . "Go"

Kakashi was already crouching there keeping an eye out, his hand outstretched for Mikoto to take. Sasuke was poised, ready to leave with that stubborn look on his face, his eyes glued to the door that was quickly becoming fragile.

"Now, Kakashi" He said, seeing the shadow of a man race from the window with Mikoto's hand safely in his, Sasuke seconds behind.

"You're all excused" He said, turning to the remaining advisers and commanders in the office. Fugaku forced himself not to feel the loss - of everything falling and crumbling at his feet with Anbu once again standing triumphant. "You may return to your posts"

And then the room was clear - the window the only access in and out of the room - all but for a few remaining commanders. The look on their faces told him they weren't going to leave - and he was silently grateful for their company.

"Promise me you'll at least try" He froze, eyes wide in shock. He barely registered her thin fingers as they gripped his jacket, tight and sure.

"What are you doing?" He breathed, wondrous yet again at her ability to surprise him. Her tears were falling freely, but her posture was calm if not a little less graceful than normal - but that could be excused. "You have to leave - now"

"Try" She urged. "You're a father too. You're a father too" She tipped their heads together, her salty tears falling on his cheeks. "Please" She clung to his shoulders in defiance, but he gripped her arms and pushed her back towards the window. She dug her heels in with refusal and he was suddenly at as loss. He was probably causing her to bruise.

"I'll try, Mikoto" He put an arm out, motioning for the window. "But you need to-"

And then came the explosion, tearing through the door and ripping apart the walls, sending the four commanders - so ready in their poise for defence - flying into the back wall with enough force to break their spines.

Mikoto and Fugaku crumpled together, their limbs tangled but their arms somehow around each other.

Fugaku quickly pulled his wife up and she stood miraculously without injury. "The window. Don't argue" He moved her instinctively to his side and then behind him, moving her towards the window with one hand on his sword - the other on her arm.

But it was already too late.

000