Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Naruto.

A/N: thank you everyone for the reviews! I wasn't sure whether or not to continue writing with this idea, or to just chunk the whole story in the garbage and write something else. I wasn't sure if it was a good story idea. But judging from the reviews you guys seem to like it, so I will continue on with it! :)

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Itachi leans cautiously over the shimmering stream, the musical sound of water tinkling through the serene forest. He takes in the appearance of his new body, shocked by how striking the similarities are to his old one. His slender fingers twirled the silky, midnight tresses around his fingers which fell in straight, glossy sheets down to the small of his back. Ebony eyes trail the smooth texture of the skin, noting how its tone is exactly the same of his old body.

The dark eyes blink a few times in surprise, full absorbing the vast extent of the similarities to his Uchiha body. The new body is an exact replica of his body from when he was fifteen, the only real difference being the longer length of his hair. Itachi narrows his sharp eyes and slides a single fine digit down the contour of his cheek. The skin revealed no outward signs of aging, and as such, the infamous lines from tiring years of missions were not etched into his cheeks.

"So God made me younger," Itachi mutters in a hushed voice, his calm expression staring intensely at the replica of his young face.

Itachi eyes the near clone suspiciously. I wonder... He blinks his majestic dark eyes slowly, concentrating his chakra expertly into his eyes.

"No sharingan." The smooth voice affirms, staring into the familiar dark eyes, ones that reminded him so greatly of his past eyes.

Chapter 2- Arrival

Itachi glides silently over the soft snow-covered grass, his movements slow and natural, yet carrying the silent stealth of a trained killer. The massive outer stone walls of Konoha loom high, casting their morning shadow over Itachi as he walks calmly towards the guarded gate. Kotetsu locks on to the stranger hesitantly, motioning towards the young man with his head, spiky black hair bobbing with the movement. Izumo glances towards the assigned direction in a bored manner, his right eye peering through ebony locks.

"Hey, you there. Stop where you are." Izumo commands with disinterest, his feet lazily kicked up on the post's desk top.

Kotetsu stands to attention, his keen eyes washing over Itachi, who is clad in a loose fitting long sleeved black robe tied securely around his waist with a knotted black belt. The sleeves fell bellshaped past his wrists, and the large collar rested loosely near the ends of his shoulders revealing a large expanse of milk white skin offset with a black cloth choker wrapped around his slender neck. Black combat pants peered beneath the long robe resting above sandals resembling those worn previously with his Akatsuki uniform.

Indifferent eyes met Kotetsu's, a placid expression holding the leaf ninja in place with no other power than its mere gaze. Kotetsu swallowed a nervous lump down his throat, leaning that much closer in to gain a better view of the stranger.

"Itachi?" Kotetsu questions, his voice strangled with fear. Yes, I'll never forget that face... and those eyes, that look in those eyes... This is Itachi, I'm sure of it.

Izumo looks at Kotetsu like he's crazy. "What are you talking about? Itachi's dead. Besides, this kid's too young to be Itachi." Izumo returns to his bored state, standing up only to slink towards Itachi with limp limbs. "Tell me your name, place of origin, and purpose."

Itachi blinks slowly, deep in thought, his face remaining passive, before answering smoothly, "I am Nakira Tsumi and I hail from the Village Hidden in the Rain. I came here to escape from the country's civil war. My family was killed because of the war, and I don't want to join them just yet."

"Alright..." Izumo answers cautiously, looking the younger man over. "We don't get a lot of refugees here. I'll escort you to the Hokage and let her decide what to do with you." Izumo glances carelessly over his shoulder towards the still flustered Kotetsu. "Hey, keep watch will ya? I'll be back shortly."

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I slide carelessly into my dimly lit room, sleep starved eyes scanning the area for my bed. I trudge disheartened towards the bed, shaking off the cold from my skin, with thoughts of Itachi's death and my clan swimming through my foggy mind. Slipping beneath the warm covers, which quickly dampen from the ice clinging to my skin, I nuzzle deep into the plush greeting sleep with open arms... until the bed dips signaling me to another's presence.

Opening my eyes, I let out a deep tired moan, glaring at the massive shadow belonging to the one who dare disturb me. I blink a few times in confusion, before realization sets in followed by an oppressive fear that swallows my heart expanding throughout my chest pushing down on me with its consuming apprehension.

"You were out late." Kisame chuckles, leaning casually against his Samehada from his sitting position. "Itachi never kept me waiting like this."

"W-What are you doing here?" I stammer nervously, staring at him in wide eye shock.

Kisame chuckles again, flashing a razor sharp grin. "That's no way to speak to your partner. Itachi was always polite."

"Well I'm not fucking Itachi." I spit heatedly, glaring towards him in resentment for even mentioning my brother.

Kisame leans back in light surprise, before chuckling in delight and having amusement fill his shark like features. "Your jinchuuriki is to be collected last in order to maintain balance in the statue. Leader's orders. There are only a few jinchuuriki's left to collect, so the wait will not be long... Are you sure you want to remain in Konoha for the time remaining?"

I cast him a harsh glare tilting my chin upwards in confidence, despite the nervous sea swimming in my stomach. "I thought I explained this already. If Konoha believes I am on their side, then I can just walk the nine tailed brat right out the front door. The jinchuuriki won't suspect anything."

"Right." Kisame pauses, the smirk disappearing in slight disappointment. "It's a shame there won't even be a fight."

I bite my lip in nervous habit, and Kisame's eyes flutter down to watch intensely as small ivory teeth dig into cherry red lips. "You're an interesting shinobi." Kisame muses.

"How well did you know Itachi?" The question floods from my lips before I even consider it, knotting my stomach further beneath my confident exterior.

Kisame blinks in surprise, caught off guard by the question. His silver shark eyes sweep over my curious face, before he offers a lopsided smirk and answers thoughtfully, "Your brother was someone I could question all night and yet never receive a genuine answer. He was calm, intelligently spoken, polite, ruthless... and in all the years I've known him, I have never heard him raise his voice nor have I seen him break his composure."

Kisame's gaze became reminiscent as he paused, silence filling the gap between us. "Seven years... I believe we have been partners for seven years, and I know as much about Itachi as when we first met."

My expression morphs from curiosity to confusion. "But from the way you spoke, the two of you sounded close."

Kisame's smirk widens, and he counters with a snide remark. "Being close to someone does not me you know the person."

Kisame stands with an air of confidence, lifting the massive Samehada easily to rest on his shoulder, his tall stature towering over my smaller still reclined one. The shark like man speaks cruelly, a hint of delight in his voice from the implication, as he moves towards the open window.

"I was close enough to Itachi to see all the similarities between the two of you, and all the differences as well... If you hesitate in your mission,... I will kill you."

I grit my teeth forcefully, holding my face in a stone cold expression, glaring death rays at Kisame while he flashes me his classic razor sharp grin before disappearing out of my bedroom window. I release a breath I was unaware I had been holding, the dread breathing through me with the heavy sigh. Tension rings roughly around my throat, causing every breath to force its way into my starving lungs, while the burden brought with the terror courses into my tired mind.

Staring up towards the blank ceiling, I allow every worry to tax my exhausted body, pulling anxiety over me like a heavy blanket to crush my small frame. I cannot betray Naruto like that, but... but what was I suppose to tell them? Their leader would not have let me leave if I had said no... I had to join them if just to escape. I sighed, my breath feeling more weighted than before, as dismay constricted my chest further, like a snake coiling around its prey. But now what? Should I tell the Hokage?... No. I betrayed the village once before, and I doubt she'd trust me enough to believe... fuck, what do I do?

Nimble fingers thread through my spiky hair, stilling my spinning head. A knock echoes through my apartment. I groan in annoyance, sliding out of bed to answer the door, the cold wooden floor biting at my bare feet.

"Now what." I hiss, frustration growing with each barking knock.

I move quickly from my bedroom door through the miniscule living room to the apartment door, opening the light wooden door with a groaning creak to reveal Izumo smiling contently on the other side. I meet Izumo's one visible eye with disinterest, keeping the door only partially open while silently hurrying the ninja away.

"Shouldn't you be guarding the main gate?" I bark harshly, aggravation etched deep into my words.

Izumo brushes off my words, too relaxed from his enjoyable stroll to be bothered by much. "Yeah, it's nice to get away every once in a while... The Hokage wishes to see you." Izumo quickly waves good-bye, releasing himself from the message, before walking briskly away.

I allow the message to sink in, and glance back inside my apartment longingly towards my bedroom door. I growl deeply, fisting the front door knob roughly in my hand, before exitting my apartment slamming the door. I'm not even a shinobi anymore, and yet I'm still being bothered with messages! I storm angrily down the hallway towards the exit, a mass of violent chakra radiating in my wake.

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"Well, I certainly didn't expect to meet a refugee when delivering my report." Kakashi speaks courteously, rubbing the back of his neck.

Tsunade leans back in her chair for better comfort, waiting patiently for Sasuke to arrive. "So... this village must be quite different from the Rain."

Itachi nods politely, his calm porcelain face matching his content demeanor. Tsunade glides her keen eyes over him suspiciously, her thoughts analyzing the unshakable youth for any crevice of deceit. He looks so much like Itachi.

"Kakashi, have one of your hounds memorize his scent." Tsunade speaks assuredly, her eyes never wavering from the complacent dark haired youth. "... Common procedure for all refugees."

"Of course." Itachi speaks smoothly, while tediously tucking a stray strand of raven locks behind his ear.

Kakashi nods in understanding, creating quick skillful seals and stooping down low towards the ground. The man with wild silver hair flattens his hands on the cool floor, causing a puff of smoke to appear revealing a small, brown hound.

"Hey, what's happening, Kakashi?" Pakkun salutes before turning to Itachi. "Woa! Hey, what's Itachi doing here?"

"Err, eh." Kakashi rubs the back of his neck nervously, having already stood from his crouched position. "This is Tsumi, a refugee from the Rain."

"There is no need for deceit." Itachi chides in quietly, his voice clear and undisturbed by emotion. "You wish to ensure I am not this 'Itachi', correct?"

Tsunade and Kakashi exchange serious glances, before affirming Itachi's suspicions with a nod. Itachi kneels deftly, offering his lithe hand in confidence to Pakkun who sniffs it carefully before turning to Kakashi and shaking his chubby head.

"Nope, definitely not Itachi. I've never smelled his scent before." Pakkun speaks confidently.

"Well... that settles that." Tsunade frowns, a tinge of discontent in her voice.

Itachi rises elegantly, smirking inward at his proof while his exterior remains expressionless and settled. Kakashi smiles behind the blue mask, embarrassed by the show.

"So, what did you do in the Rain?" Kakashi asks, slightly curious.

Itachi pauses, allowing the silence to thicken the air, before his complacent voice slices through it. "I was a farmer."

"I heard the civil war ended in the Rain. A man by the name of Pein killed Hanzo the Great Salamander ending the war, correct?" Tsunade questions, her doubtful eyes resting on the calm Uchiha.

Itachi nods, leading to Kakashi to narrow his eyes in suspicion, his strong voice questioning the young man carefully. "Then it would seem appropriate for you to remain in the Rain."

Itachi's clever mind formulates a sly response, his face never wavering from its passive resolve, as he responds fluidly, "Though the main village is no longer war torn, there is still great strife in the smaller villages from the aftermath of the civil war as the local clans fight for power, like my village. One such clan destroyed what little remained of my family's farm, and I no longer have the means to revive it."

"If you have the ability to travel to Konoha, then why didn't you travel to Amegakure instead?" Tsunade speaks harshly, smirking inward at having caught the young man in his own trap.

Itachi counters quickly, already prepared for the question, his even tone remaining steady. "Amegakure only allows the best to enter for fear of becoming over run with refugees. I am a mere farmer... You see my dilemma?"

Silence fills the room while the two Leaf Shinobi ponder over the complacent raven haired boy's response, trying to find a flaw in the story. Itachi's crystal voice disturbs their thougths. "I had no money when I left. They stole everything of value and destroyed what else would have remained. Forest berries and miniscule fish only satisfy so far... I would like to eat, please."

Tsunade exchanges a serious glance with Kakashi, who can only offer an empty shrug. "He seems genuine." Kakashi offers with a smile.

Tsunade sighs in defeat. "It would appear so." She smirks, finally satisfied with the situation, when the door to the room sweeps open.

"Sasuke, you finally arrived." Tsunade speaks confidently, slightly impatient.

I enter swiftly crossing the room to Tsunade's desk, but never make it through before stopping dead in my tracks in shock, my ebony eyes resting shakily on Itachi. What... no... I swallow a thick lump of anxiety down my throat, as a heavy air of tension shifts between Itachi and I.

Itachi's eyes widen slightly, before softening its gaze onto me. He crosses the room deftly, his slender for gliding elegantly across the floor cutting through the tension like a knife. My heart beats wildly in my ears, deafening out Tsunade's voice as she speaks to me, my breath sucking into my lungs in ragged breaths, before the young man stops in front of me. I stare in shock into this haunting, ghostly face of my brother, as he gazes back with his classic blank face.

"Pleasure to meet you, Sasuke." Itachi greets me calmly, a hint of reminiscence in his voice, as he rests his arms on my shoulders.

His scent of salt and rain engulfs me, souring my de ja vu, and I glare scornfully at the stranger. No... this isn't my brother's scent. I knock his hands off my shoulders harshly, ensuring the contact leaves bruises on his delicate skin. The imposter's gaze never wavers, nor shows any trace of pain or shock. I grit my teeth, the tightening of my jaw's tendons shooting pleasant pain through my fatigued head. He looks exactly like my brother. A wanting pain nips maliciously at my heart, gnawing away at the deep seeded guilt. Why does he look like my brother...?

I shot a venomous glare, threatening a blow with my balled tight fists at the replica of my brother. The hauntingly familiar ebony eyes stare back at me, spinning my pained denial around my wounded heart until all the accusations I have hid from pointed menacingly at me... I killed him, and now he has sent this demon to punish me...

I stared deep into the empty abyss of the apparition's eyes, before hissing a bitter deman.

"Who the hell are you?!"

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A/N: I hope you liked the chapter! It took forever to write. lol.

Please review and let me know what you think!