Chapter Two

Kakashi frowned worriedly as he surveyed the tree line for his two wayward male students, hoping beyond hope that they were alright.

He couldn't lose anyone else in this world and his students were all he had left.

His godfather was off doing who knows what, his teammates and sensei dead and buried, and his father was a can of worms better left unopened.

There was no one left for him other than the three young individuals under his command and he knew if anything happened to them he would never forgive himself.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Greeted a voice and he smiled in relief when the two boys emerged from the tree line.

That smile turned fell when he caught sight of the man behind them, wearing a Konoha hiate, along with his unconscious companion, someone many believed dead.

"Is that-?"

Sasuke nodded, lips pursed and face three shades paler than normal. The man carrying the unconscious Uchiha smirked.

"Been a while, huh, BakaKashi?"

Kakashi blinked rapidly, taking in the familiar yet unfamiliar face and that irritating nickname. Only one person ever called him that.

His breath caught in his throat. "Obito?"

Sasuke's eyes widened at the name, remembering when Shisui had told him about his elder brother who had died during the war. How did Kakashi know him?

Obito chuckled. "What happened to you? It looks like your mask is eating you face."

Kakashi sighed and ignored him, summoning Pakkun to solidify the two men's identities.

"Yo." The pug greeted and Kakashi nodded.

"Pakkun, identify."

The small dog sniffed both men.

"Uchiha Shisui, and that stupid cat-lover. "he looked up at Kakashi. "Both of whom have been dead for years."

Kakashi nodded, dismissing the hound before turning to the four shinobi in front of him.

"Let's take this inside."

They nodded, although Naruto seemed confused.

"Can you help my otouto?" Obito asked his teammate worriedly and Kakashi frowned, gesturing for him to lay the unconscious Uchiha on his futon. Once the man was settled, he ran through the hand signs for the ANBU's field diagnostic jutsu, hovering his glowing green palm over the younger man's body.

His frown deepened. "Physically, there is nothing wrong with him. His mind is saying he's-"

A soft groan cut him off, his patient's eyes fluttering open and landing on Sasuke.

"'tachi? You 'kay?"

Sasuke paled and jerked back as if he had been burnt, watching as Shisui's eyes started to clear. The man looked around, bewildered, one hand going up to his eyes.

"I…can see?"

Obito frowned. "Why wouldn't you?"

Shisui's eyes widened. "Aniki? But you- and I- huh?"

"Both of you should be dead." Kakashi said, drawing their attention to him.

"Obito, you were killed on that mission to Kannabi bridge thirteen years ago. Shisui, you were killed by y-"

Shisui cut him off with a shake of his head. "No I wasn't. I committed suicide."

Sasuke scowled. "You don't have to cover up for him, we know what he did."

Shisui glanced at him, eyes widening.

"Sasuke? Wow, gaki you grew."

The teen glared at him, his gaze colder than Shisui remembered it being.

"That tends to happen when your brother becomes a mass murderer." He snarled and both of the formerly dead Uchiha gasped.

"What?"

"Five years ago, Uchiha Itachi slaughtered your entire clan…Sasuke is the only survivor."

Obito shook his head, stunned. Surely they weren't talking about his baby cousin. The Itachi he knew would sit with the wounded soldiers and comfort them. He grew squeamish at the mere sight of blood and hated violence with a passion.

Shisui, however gritted his teeth, knowing only one person could be behind this.

Danzo.

He must have threatened Sasuke in some way because Shisui knew there was nothing that his best friend wouldn't do for his otouto. Itachi had become the best, just so the pressure wouldn't fall on Sasuke's shoulders, he killed so Sasuke would have a peaceful childhood.

Something else was going on if he had slaughtered their entire clan.

Sasuke seemed to know what he was thinking because his glare darkened.

"Of course, he kills everyone and you still take his side."

Shisui sneered at him. "There are things at work that you know nothing about, baby cousin. Villains are hardly made over night, and Itachi was no villain. You may think you know the full story but what you were told was probably nothing but a fragment of the truth."

Kakashi sighed. "Shisui, he tortured him."

Sasuke flinched remembering those burning crimson hues and the blood red sky of the Tsukuyomi.

Shisui however, stilled, his heart shattering in his chest. Itachi had tortured Sasuke, his world? Why?

What could have driven him to do such a thing?

He glanced at the bitter, anger driven form of his baby cousin and his fists clenched in determination.

He didn't know, but he would find out.

What truths had Itachi taken such lengths to keep hidden? Moreover, what was he planning?


"Konoha will be hosting the Chuunin exams this year. The suna jinchuriki will be present as well as the Kumo and Konoha jinchuriki."

Pein hummed softly as he considered Sasori's report, purple ringed eyes gazing upon each of his followers before settling on the blank expression of Itachi Uchiha.

"The Konoha jinchuriki and his team just finished a mission in Nami no Kuni, am I correct?" He asked knowing that the teen had a strange obsession with keeping an eye over the Kitsune's team. He figured it had something to do with the last Uchiha being on the boy's team.

Itachi nodded. "They killed Momochi Zabuza and his apprentice with the help of two unknown men wearing hooded cloaks."

Pein frowned. Unknown variables were not good. Not good at all. This had to be taken care of immediately and yet with Konoha's security gearing up for the exams, now wasn't the time.

"Kisame, Itachi, stick close to Konoha. I expect the Kyuubi Jinchuriki exactly two weeks after the exam finals."

Kisame smirked and nodded while his partner bowed lightly.

"Hai, leader-sama."

TBC…