Disclaimer: READ THE OTHER DISCLAMERS

Chapter 2

Ari told stories of her battles, and her victories in re-claiming villages, as well as the good people she had lost under her command. She didn't realize she had been talking for four hours until a little boy came into her apartment and flew into her arms.

"Miss Ari, Miss Ari its story time!" the light haired five year old exclaimed. She smiled and hugged him to herself.

"Tell the others to come here tonight, I think Mr. Itachi over there wouldn't mind listening to another story. She winked at Itachi and he gave her a small nod. The little boy looked over to the strange man in his "Miss Ari's" apartment, as if just noticing him for the first time. He jumped off of Ari's lap and took a few tentative steps forward. He looked into Itachi's eyes and cocked his head to the side. He smile suddenly and ran out.

"What was that about?" Itachi asked a bewildered Ari.

"I have no idea, normally he is really shy around people. He is Kalo, one of the orphans here. They stay with some of the village widows, but they come to me to hear stories of my world and listen to me play various instruments." She got out of her seat and made her way to the kitchen.

"Would you like some tea or perhaps a sandwich? You look famished." Ari opened her refrigerator and looked over at her guest.

"If it is not trouble." He stated calmly as always. Ari smiled and set to work making him a roast beef sandwich and tea.

He took the plate from her and had to restrain himself from eating the entire sandwich in one bite. It had been days since he last ate and Ari got the feeling she would have to go to the market tomorrow.

Even though there was such a brutal war, Ari had made sure the villages who had the most military protection kept going on like usual. It was not only for the sake of the children, but for their entire moral. Farms were heavily guarded and everybody from the town helped on them. Cattle, pigs, goats, chicken, and other farm animals were bred and slaughtered on a higher scale than in the time of peace because some of the meat and produce were sent throughout the United Allied Nations. Not everyone was as well off as they were and they could not afford to loose anymore people to famine. Market days were twice a week and all food was free. The only thing that had to be paid for was clothes, make-up, toiletries, pots and pans, ect. For the families that couldn't afford some of those things, there were funds to help them clothe themselves. The entire economy had stabilized and Leaf was the most prosperous and generous of the UAN.

"Miss Ari!" six children came bounding into the apartment and hugged Ari's leggs. Ari laughed and patted them all on the head.

"Everyone in attention!" she yelled, and all six formed a straight, even line in front of her. "About face!" she commanded and they turned towards Itachi.

There were four girls and two boys in the group of children. They ranged in age from 4-8 and they all couldn't keep a straight face in their formation as hard as they tried.

"Itachi, this is Emiko, Terina, Ayame, Kalo, and Jornin. Girls and boys, this is Itachi Uchiha." She smiled at the stotic Uchiha who gave a nod and looked at each of them.

"Permission to speak ma'am!" The youngest, Jornin said in his babyish voice. Ari put a hand on his shoulder and smiled gently at him.

"Granted Jornin."

"Are you related to Sasuke-san? Because he gave me ball and it is red and I really like it." He concluded with a big gap-tooth smile and a salute. Itachi was surprised with the youngster's ability to speak so well and nodded to him.

"Ok guys, sit down." The children obeyed their leader and sat in a half-circle around the empty chair Ari was seated in before, and Itachi. Ari took a seat and began a strange story of two young lovers by the names of Romeo and Juliet.

A/N: I am sorry for such short chapters, this week has been crazy for me with mid-terms and papers do! I will try and make the next one longer. This meeting between Ari and Itachi is how I can describe all the events leading up to where they are without a thousand and one flashbacks, (which I don't particularly like writing, by the way). I will have a point to this story eventually, I promise. I do have the ending and next chapter in my head, but the stuff in between has yet to come to me. Thank you to all my readers, please read and review and answer my poll I posted in the pre-chapter PLEASE!!!!!