*Author's Note: The reason it took me a few days to update, is because i was adding and deleting so many scenes! But i got them down! And i'm way ahead in chapters, so i'll be uploading frequently temporarily. That's it! Enjoy!

When they got home, a big fight began in the two familes. They were all at Naruto's house and it was chaos. So much shouting and yelling and screaming coming from four adults.

At such a young age, Yoichi and Ayame have been invited to join the anbu black ops. But the two families were at a war with each other. And their disagreement just lead to more shouting and screaming. Sakura wanted them to let Ayame join. She told Naruto that Ayame was almost fourteen, and he's held her back for too long. But he was refusing, causing Sakura to get frustrated. Heated arguments lead to raised voices, until Naruto was yelling, and Sakura was screaming over him.

"You've held her back long enough Naruto! Let her go!" yelled Sakura.

Rage was in Naruto, "There's no way in hell Sakura! Is that what you want? To send our daughter into the anbu so she can start killing people left and right?! To slaughter?!"

Sakura shook her head and yelled back, "Of course not! But we wouldn't be standing here arguing about it if it wasn't for you! You can't keep her this way forever!"

"I'm not sending my daugher to the anbu!"

"Then let our daugher move up a damn grade instead of weighing her down all the time!"

"I grew up without a family and now that i finally have one, you want me to risk it?"

Sakura picked up a plate, and smashed it on the ground, making Ayame flinch with it's sound, "You're so stupid! That's not what i'm saying! I understand Naruto! You're afraid of losing me! Of losing her! I understand trying to protect her! But you're suffocating her! You're giving her no room to breathe!"

"And you think sending her off to kill is better?!"

"You're going to ruin her Naruto! Ruin her! I can see she's already starting to fall apart and I'm not going to let you break my daughter!"

Naruto threw his hands in the air, "What do you want from me Sakura?! You want me to agree?! To hand over my daughter's innocence to the blood of the anbu?!"

Sakura grabbed Naruto by his shirt, "I want you to let her breathe! You've trapped her so tightly within your safety boundries that she's suffering in the damn cage you've built around her! I can see that she's even beginning to feel guilty for wanting just a little bit of freedom! That's what you've done to her! Making her feel guilt for wanting to escape your stupid cage! But...Naruto..." Sakura said, beginning to cry, "I don't want to lose our Ayame like i almost lost you. I love you. I love you so much. It's also my fault for not stopping you or saying anything, but if we continue to lock her down, we'll create a monster. And you know what i mean when i say that. I won't let her suffer the way you did. And i know you won't let that happen either. I won't let it happen."

Ayame cringed. Monster. Is that what she'll become? Her mother is right. She felt a different chakara inside her. A wild chaotic white chakara that she desperately wanted to use. But she was taught to never show it. It must be locked away. Forever hidden. But why monster? Why had her mother called her that? True she felt like crying out of control sometimes because she felt trapped and desperate, but will she unleash something terrible? Would she really lose control over herself and become a monster?

She looked down at her hands in her lap. A monster. But her hands looked human. As her eyes began to fill up with tears, Yoichi put his hand over hers, "I'm here." he told her.

As for Hinata and Sasuke, it was the opposite. Sasuke welcomed the idea of his son going into special training for children under the anbu black ops. But Hinata rejected the idea, saying it was dangerous to give a young boy so much power. Their argument lead to Hinata crying and Sasuke getting frustrated.

"No Sasuke! He won't! He's just a young boy!"

"We were young too when we joined the war."

"We had no choice!"

"So what Hinata?! So he can train at the academy and work his way up to what he's getting offered right now? He's getting a chance to skip all that. If he stays at the academy it'll just be a waste of time!"

"How can you say that?! The anbu will give him power Sauske. Power that's too much for a fifteen year old boy to handle. All that killing will corrupt him!"

"Power he can use to protect Hinata! Don't you realize that he's gifted?!"

Tears of fury went down Hinata's cheeks, "Have you lost your mind?! He's too young! He's just a child! I'm not letting my only son start killing at a young age! He's getting what you wanted a long time ago to live up to your brother! But the one with bloodlust is you! Not our son! Leave him out of your revenge!" she cried hitting his chest over and over again.

Sauske gently caught her wrists, "Hinata, he can join us in the war. Our son can fight along side us." he said quietly

Hinata tried to pull back from him, but his hands were wrapped around her gently, and firmly, "I want to put an end to this war before he has a chance to join it."

He pulled her closer, "Hinata, so do i. But we may not have that option."

More angry tears. "Sasuke, do you think i care?! I would rather die losing this war and keep my son alive than win it and have him die in the process."

This time, Yoichi cringed. He didn't want to listen to this. He didn't want to hear how his mother would rather die. He didn't want to imagine it. But he did. And the image he created began an anger inside him. Anger over the fact that he had no say in the final decision. As his anger increased, it vanished as soon as it appeared when Ayame squeezed his hand. "I'm here." she told him.

As the fight was happening, both Ayame and Yoichi sat silently at the table, watching their parents feud over their future. Neither of them had a choice in the official outcome. All they could do was wait for the final decision, and do as they were told. But a decision was never reached. Their entire weekend was nothing but a screaming match between Naruto's family, and Sasuke's.

"What do you want to do?" asked Ayame while they were walking to school.

It was cloudy, and foggy morning, when they walked to school. Although it was cloudy, and their weekend was filled with nothing but screaming matches between their families, Ayame was strangely in a good mood. Finally, something was happening. She was finally going to be useful. All these years of wishing, she may finally be able to put her skills to good use. Finally. Finally. She was going to become someone. Someone her parents and Yoichi could be proud of. Someone she could be proud of.

Yoichi sighed, "What does it matter what i want? We don't get to decide."

"...I want to join them."

"Why?"

Ayame looked up at the clouds in the sky, "Daddy's never let me do anything too risky. He loves me so much, and he doesn't want anything to happen to me. I love Daddy. But i wish he'd let me do something. Anything. Daddy won't even let me go on missions that are outside of the village. What's the point of being gifted if i cant use my gift? It's like having a big cake and not being able to share it or eat it."

"Are you hungry?"

Ayame giggled, "No. It was the best i could do with an example."

"And you went with food?"

She laughed, "Yes."

Yoichi smiled, "Dad said that all Naruto could ever think about when they were young was food. So i guess you really are his daughter."

"Rotting food." she laughed again, but then she looked down at the sidewalk, "That's how i feel Yoichi. Like i'm rotting away."

There was a few seconds of silence until Yoichi spoke up again, "I can understand Naruto though. I hate the idea of you killing. And i wouldn't want anything to happen to you either."

Ayame blushed, and looked away, "I-I'm just saying that even though i have fun when he lets me practice whatever jutsu i want, and even helps me, i want to help. I want to be a part of something. I want Daddy to let me out this cage. And that is something Daddy isn't willing to give me."

"Well, if you join, i will too."

Ayame smiled, "So you can protect me?"

Yoichi smiled back, "Who else will?"

Then, a sigh escaped from both their lips at the same time, "I just...i can't take all this fighting. I wish they'd stop. I...I can hear mom crying at night." said Yoichi.

Ayame stared at the sidewalk, "I can hear Mama and Daddy fighting. They think i'm asleep, but i can still hear them." She didn't mention that they've said monster again.

"They're so loud. Satchiko doesn't know what the fighting is about."

Then, Ayame suddenly hugged Yoichi's arm, "As long as you stay this handsome i think i can handle anything!" she cheered happily.

"Hey! Stop it! Knock it off! Let go of me!" he blushed trying to shake her off.

But instead, she pressed closer, "Why?" she asked closing her eyes, and breathing in his scent, "No one's around. I like being alone with you."

"Shut up! Y-You're such a stupid girl! Why do you have to be so clingy all the time?"

"Because i love you."

Yoichi's heart sped up and he looked away, no longer fighting Ayame off, "D-Damn it. If our parents caught us, they'd all kill me for sure. I don't want to die over you."

"I like everything about you. Your face, your scent, the way you are, everything."

"What's wrong with you?" he asked.

As they arrived to school, more people came into view and she reluctently let go of his arm, "Nothing." she smiled up cheerfully at him, "I just always feel happier with you."

"I hate you..." he mumbled, still red cheeked and turned away.

Ayame giggled, "I hate you too."

Ayame's class got out early that day, and told Yoichi she'd wait for him in the forest. She was up on a high tree, looking up at the sun through it's leaves. She couldn't stop thinking. She loved Yoichi. She loved her parents. She loved Satchiko, and she loved their parents. But she also loves fighting. She loves learning more things. How can she advance in this world when her father kept her under lockdown? She wants so much more than what her father's future for her has to offer.

Many times, so many time's she's entertained the idea of speaking back to her father. Of calling him a hypocrite and pointing out that at her age, he insisted on the same thing she did, and even went on a Level B mission. That he did whatever he wanted at age thirteen, while she was under his watchful eye. But of course, she knows he'd retort with the fact that he had no mother or father to tell him no, and even with her theoretical argument, she'd lose. What could she say to that? Growing up without the love of a mother and father sounded like such a cruel and cold thing to her. And he finally had a family. Her and Sakura. So she understood her father. It didn't take too long for guilt to take her over. How cruel of her. He loved her so dearly that he kept her glued to him out of fear. Fear of her dying somehow. Dying of a way he couldn't control. He's been through so much. He just didn't want her to die. How can she allow herself to think of such cruel and selfish things? He just wanted to keep his family safe and alive. How can she deny him that? How can she be cruel towards her father and try to rip away his happiness? She was ungrateful. Cruel. Selfish. Heartless. A monster.

Ayame snapped out of her thoughts when she heard rustling far beneath her. When she carefully looked down, she saw a man that looked familiar with another man. When she couldn't hear them talking clearly, Ayame used her talents and touched the tree in order to allow her senses to travel down the tree, and listen into their conversation.

"What are our targets again?" asked the purple haired man.

The familiar man had no emotion on his face, and Ayame soon realized, his eyes were red. The sharingan. "Our targets are two offspring at the moment."

"Ah that's right. What were their genders again?"

"A boy, age seventeen. A girl, age thirteen. Soon to be fourteen."

"And they're in this village?"

"..."

Ayame's eyes brightened with curiosity. She knew who that man was! The hero painted to look like a villain. With their black coats, and red clouds painted on them, she also knew what group they belonged to. She read all about them in Lady Tsunade's files tucked away in her office. Although it doesn't say officially, she pieced two and two together and discovered the truth of that man. Of Sasuke's brother. Itachi.

In her excitement, she silently began swinging her legs on her branch with her elbows on her knees, and her hands cupped around her face.

"Right. Sorry. I'm still getting used to this kind of thing." the purple haired man laughed, "You don't need to be so cold to me! We're here for the girl right? The boy is over in the Hidden Sand, right? Don't worry, i'll do most of the work this time. I just want to fight, and i already know you hate that sort of thing." he said turning around towards Ayame's branch.

But Ayame was no longer there. She knew once she was seen, she'd be attacked.

"I wonder what they were talking about." Ayame asked herself once she was a safe distance away, "Oh well. Daddy says not to talk to strangers." she said, and went off to go find Yoichi.

When Yoichi found her, all traces of the two men were gone. Ayame was momentarily distracted by her feelings of Yoichi and clouded her mind. But once they'd gone home, and she was laying in her bed, her mind was burning with curiosity of those Akatsuki men. She knew who one of them was. The brother of Sasuke. In Lady Tsunade's reports, his location is unknown after a fierce battle. Maybe this was all part of their plan. The Akatsuki are a mysterious group of people. Even Lady Tsunade's files have little information on them. All she knows, is that he has painted himself as a villain to protect his brother. There's no official report on it, but she knew. She also read Danzo's files, and once she read all of them, it wasn't hard to put the rest together.

Although it was dying down, the fighting still continued. She could hear her mother and father fighting. She hated it. She may be old enough to understand what's going on, but she still remained a child. Hurt by the fighting, Ayame snuck out through her bedroom window. What should she do? Was there anything she could do? No. Her father won't allow her to skip a grade. He wanted her safe, and protected. But being protected so long , she felt empty inside. Completely hollow.

She went over the the park nearby, and sat on a swing. She wants to fight. She wants to be able to go on missions, just like everyone else. Dangerous ones. She appreciates her father's love and protection, but she yearns for the taste of a real challenge. What can she do? She knows that one day, she'll be old enough to take her father's word into consideration, but not follow it all the way through. What would Naruto do then? Would he be angry with her? Would she even have it in her to do it? She doesn't know. Her mind was filled with too many questions, leaving her feeling defeated. It pained her to even think of going up against her father. It would hurt him, and that was the last thing she ever wanted to do. But if she can't , will she ever escape her father's protective bubble? Will she be useless to everyone forever? She didn't want to be protected. She hated being protected when she was able to protect herself. Will she stay this way forever?

Then, she felt a presence in front of her. She looked up, and there he was, "You know," she started, looking back down at her feet, dejected, her eyes filled with tears, "I could've been just like you." she said to the man standing in front of her, "I could've gone ahead of my class and done challenging things. But Daddy won't let me. I want to use my abilities, but Daddy is afraid i'll get hurt. I don't want Daddy to be sad, but i know i don't want to stay this way."

"..."

"I don't know what to do." she mumbled, trying not to cry, "Will you help me?"

"You were the one watching us earlier."

"Huh?" she tilted her head, then she realized, "Oh yeah. I wanted to say hi to you, but that other man was with you. And Daddy says not to talk to strangers."

"Am i not a stranger?"

Ayame smiled up at him, glad that she was getting distracted from her feelings, "No. I know you. Your name is Itachi. Born in the Uchiha clan, brother of Sasuke. Village traitor. I read about you in Lady Tsunade's files, and in Danzo's files."

"..."

Her eyes returned to her feet dangling from the swing, "Sasuke would be angry if he knew you were here."

"Will you tell him that i'm here?"

Ayame shook her head, "I don't want to get in trouble. So i don't know." she said, then she looked up at him again, "Did you come here to see him?"

"No. I've come here for you."

Ayame giggled, "What? I can't go with yo-Ah!" she yelped when he suddenly wrapped an arm around her and jumped high onto a tree branch.

Ayame heard an explosion while they were up in the air. She looked down, and saw that the very park they were just in, was completely destroyed, eaten up by smoke and fire. Questions filled up in her head. She became even more confused when Itachi gently put her down, and instructed her to run away. Wasn't he after her? Why would he let her escape? Then, Itachi asked her if she was okay.

"Huh?" she looked down, and saw blood trickling down her thigh. She'd been cut.

She looked back at Itachi, and saw she was lucky. His entire left arm looked bloody. He had protected her from the worst of it only to redirect the damage on himself.

"Oh no. Are you okay? I'm so sorry." she said, feeling guilty he got injured protecting her.

"He was aiming at me."

"Has he betrayed you?"

"It seems that way."

"I can help."

"No."

"Itachi-"

"I don't need you. Get away from here." he snapped.

"...But what about you?"

"That doesn't matter. I can't fight with this injury and protect you at the same time. You'll only get in my way."

Then, Ayame clapped her hands, "Oh! I know!" she cheered, "You can use me! I can amplify your powers and block out pain while you fight! I would offer to heal you, but i'm not too good at that yet. Mama just started teaching me."

Itachi's frowned, "Amplify? You?"

She nodded happily, "Yes! Although...it will damage you if i do it for too long. But i can heal most of it after you're done fighting!"

"...Why would you help me? Don't you know who i am girl?" he asked coldly.

Ayame giggled at his question, "I know you're not a traitor. And you saved me! Please?"

"...How far is your range?"

"Just fifty feet for now."

"..."

"May i?" she asked, hoping he'd say yes.

"Stay hidden in this tree. When the battle is over, i will return for you." he demanded.

Ayame was overflooded with joy and excitement. With a happy smile on her face, and her eyes twinkling like the stars in the sky, she raised her hand over her forhead, giving him a joyful salute, "You got it!" she cheered.

Without a momen'ts hesitation, Itachi jumped down. And the fight began.