THE BEGINNING OF IT ALL

The sun was rising and I didn't get any sleep, but I'm used to doing that. Sometimes I'd be up at all hours of the night waiting for one of the guys to get back from a mission they were on. I was always too scared that one might not come back one day, but I always knew that they would, somehow, pull through. I sat next to Naruto with my blade resting on ground next to me. If they ask I'll just say that while they were sleeping enemies tried to sneak up on us. Sounds reasonable enough, right? I don't know if they'll buy it or not but they have no other evidence against my claim! Ha! I took a deep breath in and crossed my legs, putting one elbow on my knee and holding my head in my hand. I was bored out of my mind. Normally, when someone was out on a mission, who ever didn't have one, would entertain me. I watched as I noticed the Hyuga slowly start to wake up. He blinked a couple of times and was sitting up stretching.

"What are you doing up so early?" I asked him. He scratched his head and narrowed his gaze at me.

"I could ask you the same thing." He said was still sounding a bit sleepy. I shrugged deciding to tell him my tale.

"Enemies were trying to steal some stuff so I," picking up my large blade and stabbing it into the ground by it's handle, "took care of them while you guys were snoozing." I don't think he believes me, but I really don't care what he thinks. He stood up and walked over to the lake and sat down on the rocky bank. After a good hour Naruto and Sakura slowly started to raise from there-what seemed like-endless sleep. Naruto noticed my large Scythe before anything else.

"Whoa! Tenten what on earth!" He looked very shocked at the same time very interested. Sakura, on the other hand looked freaked out.

"It's called the Death Scythe! I named it and I got it as a present," I smiled as I stood up and leaned it on my back. Naruto stood up as well.

"Isn't that heavy?" I shook my head.

"Not really, it's light. To me at least" I saw his eye inspect every detail over my weapon in pure amazement.

"Can I hold it?" I didn't know if he could. It might be heavy to him as it would be light to me since I learned how to hold it. So I shrugged and held the blade's handle out to him. He hopped over excitedly. He held his hands out and just barely touching the blade's handle he stopped.

"Go on take it." I shook it a little bit to motivate him. He nodded but still didn't move. After a few good seconds just looking at it he took it to is hands. I smiled at him, I let go and he fell to the ground along with my blade. I giggled at him as his shocked filled face which had some hidden amazement mixed into it.

"Whoa this thing is, really heavy!" He said while trying to lift it up. Slowly it started to advance off the ground, but he still showed signs of struggling.

"Want some help?"

"Please!" He said with a small gasp. I giggled and moved closer to him, I stood next to him. I placed one hand one the handle and slowly lifted it up for him. His smile widen as it lifted higher in the air until it was completely above him.

"Wow this so cool!" He exclaimed. I smiled at him. I left go but instead of him falling over, he didn't move. I noticed that he was using chakra to keep his balance, and to keep the blade in the air.

"Naruto stop using your chakra, the Death Scythe is special, it uses the wielder's charka to attack, it also drains an opponents chakra with every hit. It's like it has a mind of it's own. Since it knows that you aren't it's owner it's draining your chakra so stop using it." I watched as he slowly turned around, as he did the blade slowly turned with him. He shut his chakra flow off instantly, but since the blade was moving with him it ended up slamming into the ground. Naruto's eye were wide, he was amazed at the site that was in front of him. I turned to look at about ten feet down trees were sliced in half. Sakura, who was leaning on one of the trees, died. I wish. She was next to me with the same look as Naruto. Neji walked over with an annoyed look on his face along with one that didn't care what was going on.

"Who did that?" I pointed to Naruto acting like the kid I was. He narrowed his gaze at me and looked at Naruto since I was right. I smiled smugly. He rolled his eyes.

"Get packed up we are leaving in five minutes." I nodded and went to take my Scythe from Naruto, who could possibly kill us if I didn't.

"Good job Naruto!" I said taking the blade from him and throwing it on my back. He stood there still shocked but soon shook it off and headed to get whatever he had packed. The sun wasn't very high in the sky, so I knew that it was still the morning. I stood there waiting for everyone else to finish up.

"Come on. We need to move o the next location." Neji said while slinging his bag over his shoulder. I nodded and sat down on the ground.

"What are you doing?" Neji asked annoyed, someone is cracky.

"I'm waiting." I said while crossing my legs and putting my hands together to hold my head up.

"For?" He looked like he was going to snap.

"Shadow." He narrowed his gaze at me.

"Lets go and stop wasting time." He said and walked on ahead.

"All right then." I didn't move. I looked up in the sky waiting for him to show up. I sat there for a few more seconds and got up. I sighed he's late or doing something else again. I walked behind the three in front of me by a good couple of feet.

"Hey Tenten," Naruto stopped and waited for me to catch up. Once I did, he walked next to me. "Who's Shadow?" I looked at him then back to the sky.

"He's my bird, also a gift. He looks like a dove in the day and crow in the night. He is a beautiful bird, you'll see him in a minute." He nodded looking up in the sky. We just stayed like that for a good minute.

"Hey, is that him?" Naruto said pointing to a cloud in the sky. I looked closer and saw the form of a bird.

"Yep there he is." He flew in circles and swooped down like a hawk to it's prey. I saw as Neji and Sakura notice him and pulled out kunai.

"Stop! That's Shadow!" Neji stopped but Sakura didn't, she threw about ten kunai's and a few shuriken. Sakura didn't know that this wasn't any normal bird. I take care of what's mine, that means I made sure that Shadow knew how to stop kunai and shuriken. I watched as he grabbed on shuriken with his talons and use it as a shield. He bobbed and weaved through they kunai flying at him. Soon enough he did one move that I was still teaching him. He lifted one wing so that he would spin in mid air while coming down. He lifted the one leg with the shuriken and tossed it out at Sakura. Stopping the spinning motion he quickly flew to my shoulder and made a 'Caw' sound while flapping his wings. I rubbed the top of his white feathers to let him know that no harm will come to him. I looked at Sakura to make sure that she was okay. I saw on the ground the shuriken Shadow tossed back; she deflected it.

"That's some bird you have there, Tenten." Naruto said with a smile. I smiled back.

"Thanks." I rubbed under Shadow's neck. I noticed the end of a worm he was eating. He lifted his head and ate the rest.

"Ah, I see now, having breakfast. Tardiness will be let off now since it wasn't anything bad." He made another 'Caw,' and bobbed his head.

"He can understand you?" I nodded.

"He can understand all of us. He is a trained bird." Sakura glared at Shadow. She mumbled something under her breath. I saw Shadow start to flap his wings and caw again. He flew over to Sakura and pecked her in the head.

"Ow! Hey!" She said rubbing her head. She turned to glare at me. I gave her a confused look while shadow landed on my shoulder making one last caw.

"What?"

"Control your bird!" she yelled back rubbing her head.

"Control what you say then." I said. "Shadow has a heighten sense of hearing, so he knows what you said." I smiled smugly. I swear Shadow would laugh to if he could.

"What is the bird for any way?" Naruto asked me, I looked over at him.

"Shadow here is going to lead us to Sasuke. I took the liberty ask Shadow to locate him while you guys were sleeping. So now all we have to do is follow Shadow." I extended my arm letting Shadow walk out on the ends of my fingers. Instead of throwing him in the air I lower my arm to he could walk. That way we all can get a break. Shadow can take a break from flying all night and we all could just stroll along. Me and Naruto chatted amongst ourselves about different things such as our likes and dislikes, what foods we like, and other things like that. We acting like friends catching up on things. I've never been so at peace before. Well, maybe back when the guys and me would just relax in the sun out in a field, or playing a game. It was relaxing, the day was a good temperature, there was a calm breeze. Today was just one of those days.

"Can I ask you a serious question?" Naruto asked me. I looked at him and nodded.

"What the Akatsuki really like?" I was taken back by that question. I didn't think that we'd get on that topic, but I knew it couldn't be avoided.

"Well, they aren't what everyone thinks them to be."

"It's fine, I remember what you said to Grandma, those were some strong words. I've never seem anyone go against Grandma and live to tell the tale." He snickered. I laughed.

"Looks like I'm a first!" We laughed together.

"Also, I've never seen someone get so defensive. There must be some type of huge bond you have with the Akatsuki because, for starters, no one has ever defended them, no one broke down Grandma's tactics in seconds, and I've never met anyone like you before."

"Thanks for the complements and to tell you the truth, they don't know anything. Everyone has had something bad happen like they took something that doesn't belong to them. Later on they find out who did it and they make up, they don't hate them for the rest of their life, do they?" Naruto shook his head.

"I understand what your saying. The Akatsuki-lets just say-have to do things to get what they need, since they have to do it constantly everyone dislikes them. I understand that part, but why do they kill people?" I shrugged. I didn't know the answer to that completely.

"Sometimes people figure out where their hide out is so to keep them quiet they silence them forever, if you know what I mean." He nodded.

"I honestly, am against killing. I've thought that if I could just get them to erase their memories then I'd prefer that. They told me that once I find that jutsu and teach it to them they'd use it."

"Yea, that sounds like a better way," He looked at me with a grin. "Why don't I help you find this jutsu! Maybe Grandma has some old scrolls that can help you or something!" He said with excitement.

"No! Naruto think what's wrong with you! She is with the Akatsuki! Who knows what they could do with some jutsu like that you idiot! Why are you sharing all this information with her! She isn't going to do anything except tell them!" Sakura said turning around to yell at him.

"Sorry Sakura." Naruto said while lowering his head a little bit. I got upset.

"Don't say your sorry to her Naruto! Stand up for yourself! You do what you believe is right! Also, if you feel like I will tell them then I'll make you a promise. Everything that we talk about now sticks between us and stays between us. You know you can trust me. I haven't broken any other promises I've may, did I?" Naruto looked back and forth between me and Sakura. It didn't matter if he choose her over me. Our friendship might not last anyway.

"Promise?" He said to me holding up his pinky finger. My eyes widened not excepting that; same case with Sakura. I shook my head and nodded also holding up my pinky finger. We interlocked fingers and smiled at each other.

"Promise!" We both turned around and walked up to Neji who didn't seem to notice us stopping. We walked right behind him leaving a shell shocked Sakura behind.

~A few hours Later~

"We've been walking for hours! Where is Sasuke! I'm going to kill him once we find him for making us walk this far." Naruto said grumbling. I smiled at him and kept my pace up. The sun was high in the sky, close to noon.

"Shadow" He turned and flew up on my shoulder and made a small caw sound.

"Where is Sasuke?" I gave him a questionable look. He jumped down to the ground and with one of his talons he drew a circle.

"WHAT! THIS BIRD HAS BEEN MAKING US GO IN CIRCLES!" Naruto yelled. He started running after the Shadow.

"WHY YOU DIRTY LITTLE BIRD! HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME WALK IN CIRCLES!" yelling at him jumping in the air trying to grab him from it. I sweat dropped and walked over to Sakura and Neji.

"Does this happen often?" I said lowly.

"You haven't seen anything." Sakura responded settling our conflict for a moment. Neji just sighed and rubbed his temples. We stood there and watch Naruto until he settled down a bit. He sat on the ground panting still mumbling a few things.

"Shadow, come here." He raised his head and flew over to me sitting on my arm.

"Where is Sasuke?" He turned around and made a loud caw sound towards Naruto while flapping his wings violently. Naruto glared at Shadow raising a fist.

"I'll take you on any day! You name it!" Shadow cawed agains and flew over and pecked him on the head.

"OW! Why you little!"

"Naruto! Shadow just wants you to give him some space. You didn't let him finish. Normally when he is done he makes a claw print. So let him finish." Naruto backed down and walked over to a near by tree leaning on it glaring at Shadow as he landed on the ground. He drew another circle in the circle with a 'X' in the middle. After that he made a claw print like I said he would. Now we just have to figure out what it means. Me, Neji, and Sakura walked over to the drawing of the ground.

"What does that mean?" Sakura asked. I shrugged. Every one sweat dropped.

"Wouldn't you know? It's your bird?" Neji asked with a brow raised.

"Yes, but, I'm no mind reader. He needs to add more details" I looked at Shadow. He made a low caw sound and erased his claw mark. We watched as drew something long, with holes in it. I knew what that was! It was a flute! What on earth did that have anything to do with anything? He also made another circle inside the big circle, it wasn't perfect like the other two he made. He also made one line go in a wavy form from the demented circle through the circle with the 'X' and to the other side of bigger circle concluding with his claw mark.

"Let me guess, the big circle is the perimeter, the little circle with the 'X' is around where Sasuke is, the demented circle is like a lake and the wavy line is a river. Is that right?" I saw Shadow nod and fly up on my shoulder.

"I'm not sure, I can't picture it's map." Neji said.

"Make a dot or something so we can see how far away we are from this area." I said while he hopped down again. He looked at his little map and then took to the sky.

"What is he doing now?" Naruto said with an impatient tone.

"Making sure he is correct." He came back down slowly landing right next to his work. He took one long claw and poked a dot next to the river.

"So we must be near by then." Neji said heading in the direction. Shadow made a long 'Caw' as he raised his wings up and pointed them to the sky.

"Hey, what is he doing?" Naruto asked while watching him. Shadow started growing slowly. He only became taller by a few inches. His wings went from pure white to jet black. His beak became a little longer along with his tail feathers. Final thing that changed was his eye color, now blood red. Shadow was now in his crow form.

"Whoa, didn't see that coming." Naruto said scratching the back of his head. Shadow flew over in front of Neji, stopping him. He made a long Caw sound at him and turned one hundred and eighty degrees around.

"Your going to wrong way another words." I snuck up behind him and whispered in his ear. He grunted and waited with his arms folded. I turned around and heading were Shadow was flying. Everyone followed behind me and Shadow flying ahead. I was wondering if Shadow based his map off miles or shorter since he doesn't really know the difference that well. His maps can show that you are right next to the target, but you don't get there until another few hours; distance didn't matter to me at the moment I just couldn't wait to see him again. We walked for a couple of hours, soon the sun was setting and before we knew it, the sun was gone and the moon was glowing in the dark sky. Shadow started blending in with the darkness of the woods so it was getting harder for us to see him. I noticed everyone's pace slowing down. I didn't think that we'd reach him until tomorrow at this rate. After a little while Shadow stopped, hovering in the air.

"Whats wrong?" I looked at him, he landed on the ground and started walking with his, now longer legs, ahead. I shrugged and followed him. I heard a flute in the distance.

"Stop!" I held out my arm and everyone stopped tensing up.

"What is it?" Naruto asked.

"Sh, listen, don't you hear that? The flute?" I looked around, started to run ahead. Shadow started crowing loudly and following my lead flying right next to me. I kept running ignoring the calls of my name behind me. The music was getting louder. I know it's him! I just know it. I stopped dead looking out at the most beautiful sight. Naruto, Neji, and Sakura just reaching me stopped as well to take in what we saw. Right below, in front of me was bright blue river. It had blue glow worms crawling around the side of the river bank leaving it or inside hatching from it's eggs. He was just sitting on a high rock that was about the level of height we were at from the ground. He sat with his legs crossed and his back pack on the ground next to the large rock. He was holding a wooden flute up and playing each note perfectly. There were millions of fire flies all over the place circling around him in a slow fashion. His eyes were closed as he played so he didn't notice us approach. I let out a small whisper.

"Sasuke," My eyes widen, my large Scythe nearly fell off me from my state of mind. I gripped it making sure that I wouldn't drop it. He stopped playing to look up at Shadow flying over to him. He still didn't notice us, which was fine with me. I watched as Shadow flew over to him and land on one of his knees looking up at him with a low caw sound. Sasuke pet him on the head and lifted a basket from behind him-it looked like worms- and watched as Shadow pecked his way through it. Sasuke patted the back of his feathers and looked over in my direction with shocked eyes. Mine mirroring his. I jumped over the river to stand in front of the rock. He stood up and jumped down to stand in front of me. He looked at my blade; I looked at it too. My hand wanted to drop it, but my mind told me not to. I let it go unwillingly, I heard it touch the ground with a loud 'thug.' We both looked up at each other at the same time. I moved closer and he moved closer.

"Sasuke!" I yelled and jumped on him hugging him. He made a small gasp and hugged me back.I buried my face in his neck as he put his chin on top of my head. I wrapped my arms around his neck holding him tightly while he put one hand on my back and the other on the back of my head. I was leaning on him too much so we started to fall. Sasuke held me closer making sure I didn't hit the ground. Once he hit the ground his hold on me loosened. I felt his other hand come up to my face. I looked up at his hand while it touched my cheek, he rubbed his thumb under my eye wiping away a stray tear. His other hand went down to my bandaged waist. I put one hand on his face brushing away stray hair while the other drew circles on his shoulder. He lifted his head to bumped my nose lightly while his eyes stared deeply into mine. I moved my head down about to kiss him when he moved his head too. Instead of lip contact we got forehead contact and since he had a metal forehead protector on my head hurt more. I moved my hand away from his face to rub the pain. He stopped my hand with his own and put it down. He leaned forward and kissed my pained spot. I blushed a little bit looking down. He smirked at my reaction. I was going to try another kiss but then I noticed a basket in front of my face with long bird like claws on Sasuke's forehead. I looked up to see Shadow flapping his wings at us to get our attention. He flew off next to Sasuke's head as Sasuke sat both him and me up. I sat in his lap with one of his hands still wrapped around my waist while he frowned at Shadow.

"Greediest thing I've ever met." I looked up at Sasuke then back at Shadow who still had a basket in his mouth. I raised a brow at Sasuke, he looked at me.

"This crow keeps coming to me asking for food. Those worms were for me to catch fish with not for him to wolf down."

"How else is he going to get big and strong?" He looked at me with a puzzled look.

"Why would you want to take care of that bird?"

"Because, Shadow is my bird and I want to see him grow old one day." I pouted slightly. He gave that, 'Oh really now?' look, I thought it looked sexy so I looked down and blushed. I heard him chuckle and nuzzle my neck. My blush increased from his warm breath on my neck.

"Then I'll give him all the worms, bugs, and maggots he wants." He frowned against my skin. "Especially the pink one." I felt them all walk over after dropping their stuff over away from us.

"Sasuke! I missed you so much! You have no idea how long I stayed up watching everyone, making sure everyone was in check, it was such hard work!" She said as she pushed me off Sasuke's lap and onto the ground while she sat on his lap. I sighed and got up and walked over to the river bank to look at the blue glow worms that haven't hatched yet. I down on a spot that the worms weren't crawling around. I lifted my hand out and my Death Scythe came flying at me. The tip of the blade stopped right in front of my hand, it turned up ward so that I could grasp the handle. It moved slowly closer to my hand until the handle touched the palm of my hand completely. I gripped it and sat it down next to me. I raised my other hand and waited a few second before he got the message. Shadow came flying over to me and landed on my arm; I lower my arm so he could hop down on to my lap. He lowered his legs and pecked at his feathers. I rubbed his head. I felt someone behind me, but I ignored them. Shadow poked his head behind me and cawed. He flapped his wings to sit on my shoulders, holding his wings up threatening the person that he'd come at them. I didn't need to look to know what she was doing I just picked up my blade an in an instant I was behind her with my Scythe around her neck.

"You better keep your tongue in your mouth or my crow here will eat your dead flesh." I felt her fear spike up so much that I could feel it in waves. I lowered my blade and walked around her to point it right at her.

"You're asking for a fight if you ever do such a thing again, understand? Other wise," I spun my Scythe in the air above my head and then making it crash in a diagonally downward angle into the ground. "You'll be dead before anything happens." She now had two cuts one on her face and another on her arm, they weren't big so she won't die of blood loss. I turned around and started walking down the river bank with, my Scythe on my shoulder and Shadow on the top of the blade.

"Lets find something for you to eat Shadow, Sakura would just make you sick." I walked all the way until we were in the forest. I looked around for something big that I could move and find bugs. I noticed a log. Lifting it would be a problem. I brought my Scythe above my head and slammed it into the ground making a hole big enough for me to squeeze through. I impaled one of the half logs and turned in over and doing the same to the other. There were enough bugs to feed a normal group of birds. Shadow swooped down from the tree he sat in patiently waiting in. He stood on a log, he raised his wings and pulled back his head a bit. Then he started cawing like mad for a couple of seconds. The he went back to pecking at the bugs like nothing just happened.

"Shadow who did you-" I was cut off by the amount of other crows the swooped down. There was about forty to fifty crows here. I looked at were Shadow was, I could point him out easily. He was the only crow with blood red eyes, the others had a dark blue eyes and Shadow was twice their size now. It was beautiful, he looked like the 'Ruler of the Crows.' I don't know, he also is the 'Ruler of the Doves.' He is the King of all birds. I smiled at him. I heard someone behind me so I went to move my blade from in front of me to point behind me.

"Relax, it's me." I turned around to see Sasuke leaning against a tree with his arms crossed smirking that God like smirk at me. I sat my blade down next to me and stood up. I crossed my arms and stood thee staring at him.

"You done playing with her?" I asked a bit jealous. He caught that and walked over to me. He placed both hands on either side on my head trapping me between him and the tree. He look into my eyes with seriousness.

"Do you want an answer to that?" He whispered in my ear making me shiver. I moved my head over to his neck to take in his scent. I felt him kiss my neck.

"Answer me." I nodded. He felt him smirk against my neck. I looked over to see Shadow raise his head and flap his wings while cawing at us. He was bobbing his head and soon the rest of the crows were doing that. Sasuke noticed this to so he moved in and kissed me. The crows started flying around us cawing with Shadow as the leader. I kissed him back wrapping my arms around his neck while he wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me closer until every space that was between us was closed. He bit my lip asking for entrance, I opened my mouth to let our tongues clash. We stayed this way for a while, fighting for dominance. I moved back to breath, I heard him gasping for air just like me. He gave me a peck on the lips.

"Does that answer your question?" I nodded with a small blush on my face. He took my hand in his and pulled me along with him.

"Hey where are we going?" He looked back at me then on the path that he was taking me.

"You'll see." He smirked. He was moving a little too fast.

"Sasuke slow-" I was cut because I tripped. He quickly spun around and caught my other arm preventing me from hitting the ground. He pulled me closer wrapping one of his arms around my waist. He walked slower this time. We walked in silence, I looked up at Sasuke's face. I couldn't help but notice that his skin looked so smooth. He looked down from the corner of his eye and looked at me.

"What?" He asked, I blushed and shook my head. He smirked and kept walking. Then I saw this small clearing. It was covered in patches of flowers, the moon light was glowing right on that spot, and there were little fire flies everywhere. It was beautiful. I saw a normal sized rock but when I looked up I notice that all the crows were hidden within the trees. Shadow hovering in the center hopped over by the rock and perched on it. I walked into the little opening and laid down. Sasuke walked over and sat down next to me; he looked over at me.

"Its beautiful." I smiled at him. His eyes were roaming my body. I blushed and rolled over away from his eyes. He took my shoulder and rolled me back over while placing his around me so I couldn't roll over. I looked up into his black eyes.

"Why hide something I've already seen?" He smirked showing some of his teeth. I blush at the memory of us under the water. I bit my lip.

"Pervert!" I pushed him forward laying him flat on the ground, causing me to sit on his waist while my hands were resting on his chest. I blushed at the position. He had a bit of a surprised look on his face then it slowly turned into a smirk.

"Someone is bold." I blushed deeper. I sat up straight crossing my arms, moving my hips a little so I could close my legs, but a sound from Sasuke stopped me. He groaned. I felt something poke me from where I was sitting and blushed.

"Someone has a dirty mind." I smiled smugly. He looked away from me with the slightest amount of pink on his cheeks. He reached up and grabbed my hips holding me in place.

"Sasuke. What are you doing?" He sat up a little bit. I slid off him and he groaned again. He pulled me into a hug from behind. My back was on his chest, his chin sat on top of my head.

"Can I ask you a serious question?"He moved his arms lower down my waist and pulled me closer, if possible?

"Yea, what is it?" I leaned back on him.

"Do you like me, for who I am?" I didn't even have to really think about that one that much. I answered it when I went back to the waterfall standing there alone. I knew I loved him, but I didn't admit it, at first.

"Sasuke," I turned around to kneel on the ground and wrap my arms around his neck. "I don't think I like you, but I might be in love with you." I kissed him and he kissed me back.

"Does that answer your question?" I repeated his quote. He smirked at me.

"Yea," He said and kissed me back. His hand lowered down from my waist to my hips and back up again.

"I meant to ask you this before but why are you all bandaged up, are you all right?" I forgot about that.

"It's for when I'm using weapons," I flexed my hand. "I need a good grip so this comes in handy,"

"Can I help you take it off since you aren't playing with your weapons?" He smirked as I blushed.

"No, there is a big fight soon so I have to be prepared." I looked away from him. He took my chin in his hand and made me face him.

"What are you talking about 'big fight?'" He gave me a stern look. I shook my head and stood up. Sasuke followed shortly after.

"Good night Shadow!" I walked away from the scene. I heard Shadow caw again before I was in the forest again.

"Tenten! Wait!" Sasuke said chasing after me. I didn't want to slow down but I didn't want to run away either so I kept walking away. I felt his hand grab mind, I stopped and turned around for a moment but I turned around trying to break from his iron grip.

"Sasuke please, I don't want you involved." My plans have been changed. I love him too much to use him then leave him alone and hurt. I tugged to get away from his grip but he wouldn't let go.

"Tell me Tenten, I don't care, I don't want to lose anymore people who I care for. I lost too many people all in one night, I don't want to lose another person."He pulled me back into a hug and held onto me tightly.

"Sasuke I can't. I don't want to risk leaving you or hurting you. Please just look past what I said. I love you too much for you to get hurt."

"No! I'll do what ever it takes just so you can realize that I'd do anything to keep you alive and out of harms way."

"If you'd do anything would you let me go?" I looked into his eyes. He just kissed me.

"No. I'll fight an entire country just so you wouldn't get hurt, I'd kill anyone who'd dare bring a tear to your eyes, I'll do anything for you to not get hurt. It was hard to recover from the death of my entire clan, but the loss of you its almost the same pain. I wasn't this happy since I came home to mom one day with a letter saying that I was the top student in my class, her smile, dad's approval, and even Itachi's made me happy. Now that is in the past, I have to learn to live with what I have and kill Itachi for what he did. So one day I can live in peace, with you as my wife, we could have kids, and grow older together. That dream can't become real if you're gone. Can it?" I shook my head.

"I had big dreams like that too Sasuke. Yet, things are keeping that from happening right now."

"Tell me what they are and I'll remove them from existence." I giggled a little at how serious he was, but I knew that wasn't possible.

"You can't, they want me alive so they can use me to get to the Akatsuki, you, and anyone else. I'm planing to fulfill their desires by giving myself away." His grip held me tighter, I heard his teeth grinding.

"You're giving your life? To make peace?" I nodded slowly.

"Listen first, before you let go. I'm going to give myself to them, I told the Akatsuki that they'd be fighting a war, but I'm not allowing that to happen. I'm going to see what they really want about the Akatsuki and see if I can end it. If what they want is violence then I will give it to them first and the Akatsuki will finish the job. There won't be that many of them left with the jutsu that I have in mind, which could be the end of my life. I'll threaten my life, it's what they want since I'm the only lead they have, other than me they only know what they know on the Akatsuki. I know their secrets, weaknesses, advantages, disadvantages, tactics and all, that's why my life is valued so much. I told the Akatsuki a false lead to my plan, but I'm changing it so you don't get hurt at the same time they don't get hurt."

"Is there another way you thought about instead of killing innocents?"

"Yes, the Hokage, the leader of the village. I will make agreements with her to end every problem they've ever had with the Akatsuki. If that doesn't work, then I'm going to show them the power of the Akatsuki outside of the village so not too many innocent people will get hurt. Unless you have a better plan please enlighten me." He looked at me with serious eyes.

"Frame yourself," I raised a brow.

"What are you talking about frame myself?"

"Fake your death in front of the Village and the Akatsuki. Once everyone thinks you're dead you have to leave. Once you're 'gone' for a good amount of time you can come back. The village will be off your case, the Akatsuki will-" I cut him off.

"Will want revenge and bring havoc on the Hidden Leaf, that's the last thing I'd like, a war."

"Then tell them of your new plan," Then they'd know that I lied to them. I didn't want that, but if it's going to keep everyone safe then I'd do it. I nodded at Sasuke with a confident smile on my face.

"What about Naruto?" He gave me his irritated look.

"What about him?" I narrowed my gaze at him.

"Why don't you like him? He is a good friend, sure he can be a little over the top but-"

"A little over the top?" He raised a brow at me, I thought back on how he reacted with Shadow and changed my answer.

"Ok, so he really over reacts but so what, he was the nicest anyone has ever been to me. Besides you and the Akatsuki, he is my only real friend. I've never had a bond like that with anyone before and I'm not ready to lose it. Hasn't he done good things with you or for you?" He looked at me then up at the dark sky. I didn't wait for him to respond so I did myself.

"I can't trust Neji or Sakura, they are too loyal to Konoha to keep a secret like that."

"Yet you can trust Naruto?" I nodded at him with a smile. I know Naruto wouldn't do that to me, we have so much in common that something this deep can't be taken apart. I heard him sigh as he walked over to a near by tree, sat down and leaned against it while looking back from the direction we came. A thought came to mind when I looked at Sasuke. He said that he wanted to kill Itachi, but all those times that he was around him. He could've done it; when we were at the lake, the time at the cave, and even back at the hideout when everyone's guard is lowered. How was he so calm at a moment like that? Doesn't he know that the Akatsuki wanted to kill him and they were close to it too. I walked over and sat down in front of him with my legs crossed. I left my Scythe, oh well, I'll just summon it when I need it. He looked at me then back in the same direction.

"Why didn't you try and attack Itachi when he was near? He was the one who killed your clan right? So why were you so calm at a moment like that? If that was me I'd try and kill him on sight." He looked at me with an emotionless face.

"I didn't do anything because I'm not naive, I know that he is way out of my league and it wouldn't be smart to just go at him head on. Also all those times I was with him, the rest of the Akatsuki was present, only an idiot would have the brains to take on a member of the Akatsuki while the group was present. Soon I'll kill him, for everything he did, all the lives he took. I'll kill him and then I'll live in peace, while the rebirth of the Uchiha clan begins. I'll be the new head, with you as my wife, we'll have beautiful children together, the start of a new clan." The wind blew softly, his dark hair moved with it as he looked up at the glowing moon. I looked down and away from the site. I loved Itachi like a brother. Memories of him flashed in my head. I remembered the time when he taught me how to walk up a tree correctly. He taught allot and most of it has kept me alive and living. He may not be much of a talker but he will speak when he finds he should put his opinion out there. I started laughing at an old thought about him. Sasuke looked at me with a raised brow.

"May I ask, what are you laughing at?" I shook my head and waved a hand at him.

"Nothing, I just remember a past memory. I can understand your hate for Itachi for what he did, but I bet you don't know the reason why he did that. If you did you'd like him just like I do." He crossed his arms.

"I know why he killed the clan, he was just testing his strength. He left me alive because I wasn't worth killing." He said that so calmly, I don't think I could do something like that.

"That's not what he told me. I asked him why he did it. He gave me an answer but not one full to his extent." Sasuke made a small grunt sound and rolled his eyes.

"He'll do anything to keep the truth from slipping out. He is just putting lies into your head. You can't trust him." I was taking back by that, sure he killed his clan, but Itachi is apart of that clan too. I doubt that he didn't feel some sort of emotion that showed some remorse. Itachi just isn't that kind of person.

"That's harsh Sasuke, you don't know what Itachi sacrificed for you." He snapped his head over to me and glared hard, I wasn't affected.

"He killed my clan."

"It's not just your clan Sasuke, it's his too!" I said nearly yelling at him.

"He lost the title of being an Uchiha when he decided to wipe out the clan." He said emotionless. He doesn't know the whole story, not like I do.

"You don't know how he felt when he did it!"

"It doesn't matter how he felt at the time! Haven't you heard that actions speak louder than words? Thoughts are silent so it isn't known. Actions speak the loudest, words are just whispers of our thoughts and thoughts are nothing but unspoken actions; no action means nothing was done. Itachi's thoughts turned into the words that haunt my being and those words applied to his actions! The death of an entire clan!" He yelled at me.

"The entire clan isn't dead Sasuke! You and Itachi are proof of that! You don't know his thoughts! You don't know how he felt while doing what he did! All you know is what he said, did, and done. That's it! You don't know all the people he lost! He had his best friends killed! His life was threaten! They were going to kill everyone! Instead they allowed him to live. He allowed you to live as well! He was suppose to kill everyone including you! He did what he did to protect you, instead of killing you, he let you live! He said what he said so you'd never know the cold heart truth! You're just like everyone else! You go off what everyone says and what you already know! You haven't lived with them, you don't know what they go through, you don't know a God damn thing about them! So what if you lived with him! He didn't tell you everything! I know what really happened and who the cause of the entire Uchiha's death really was, but you wouldn't understand." I yelled right back at him. This was starting all over again back to Sasori. I couldn't stand it anymore. I stood up and headed back to the camping grounds. It was late but I wasn't tired. I'm used to staying up for long amounts of time.

"Why do you defend someone like him? He isn't anything but a colder hearted killer! He killed my clan, Tenten! Why do you side with him knowing that he brought pain to me? Why?" He quickly got up behind me and stood there. I sensed the anger rolling off him in waves. I didn't reply, I just kept walking.

"Tenten!" He grabbed my wrist roughly and yanked me back turning me around to look in his black eyes. I glared at him. I raised my other hand to slap him but he caught it.

"Let me go Sasuke! I don't have to answer to you if I don't want to. I love Itachi like a brother and there isn't a word you can say that will change that! I'm sorry about how you feel, but your emotions are lies. You wouldn't be thirsting your brother's blood so much if you knew the truth!" His hands gripped my wrists even harder causing me to flinch in pain.

"I guess you know the real reason why he killed my clan? I bet you were there as well, when Uchiha blood stained the floors and walls. What ever he told you was a lie, get that through your head, Tenten. You don't know what it's like walking into your home with blood covering every wall. You don't know what it's like having your parents lay dead in front of you while you see your brother standing there with their blood smeared all over him. I'll never forget his eyes when I asked him what happened. Red is all I see in my dreams. Nothing but dripping red. You'll never see what I've seen, and you'll never know the truth." He said with a low voice dark emotions dripping from every word. I back up away from him.

"I don't care Sasuke! My feelings for Itachi won't change! I'd tell you the truth but it's not my place to!" He glared at me.

"If you know the truth so much why are you holding back? Since you know why don't you tell me?" His grip intensified making me buckle down.

"Sasuke let me go, you're hurting me! Stop!" I felt the opposite effect. I dropped down to my knees while he held my arms above my head still keeping his iron grip. I felt the stinging of my bones and the pressure all at the same time.

"This isn't even a taste of my pain, this is a gentle kiss compared to the pain I've felt!" He whipped one of my arms down to the ground; I heard a snapping noise. I scream out in pain while tears poured down my face.

"Sasuke stop! Please! Stop!" I begged him but he didn't do anything but hold my last captive arm.

"Stop!" I yelled out loud and I heard another crack noise. He still didn't let it go. I looked up at him to see his face. It was twisted with anger and hate, his eyes were glaring down at me. After staring in his eyes for a few moments his eyes snapped wide and looked to the left. Before I knew it my his grip was ripped from me sending me down to the ground. I laid on the ground with the grass tickling my nose. I saw Sasuke fall to the ground. I felt someone lift me up bridal style but I kept my eyes on Sasuke.

"Tenten are you all right?" I turned to the voice and say the same black eyes. It was Itachi, Shadow came out from the dark with his eyes glowing red. I heard him caw an unearthly sound. Itachi turned around and started walking away. I tried to move my arms but then I realized Sasuke, snapped my wrists. I can't hold a weapon with out feeling a jolt of pain shoot through my body.

"I'm taking you home Tenten, we'll heal your wounds." I looked up at his face.

"What about the plan?"

"We all decided that you'd try something so we are calling it off. We are just going to have to watch you for now on," He looked at me then he turned slightly.

"What do you think you are doing, Itachi?" I heard Sasuke say in a low tone. Itachi turned around to face Sasuke. I looked up at Itachi then at Sasuke.

"I'm taking her somewhere away from you and the rest of her worries." Sasuke glared at him.

"You are taking away her worries? I don't believe you! Let her go!" He yelled. Itachi's clam face slowly turned annoyed.

"Stay out of this Sasuke. You've done enough damage to her as is. I was beginning to accept her letting you under her wing, but I see how you've treated her and it didn't go unnoticed." He looked down at me with gentle eyes and started to turn around.

"I've done damage to her? I've done nothing but show her what it means to feel loved and appreciated. I would never hurt her! You're the only one who is going to end up hurting her!" He yelled back. Itachi stopped and looked at Sasuke again with an emotionless face.

"All I've done was to keep her safe. Look at her wrists, they're nearly broken, and I'm the one who did that? I've seen the affection you've shown her, but it's nothing but a hidden lie. You say one thing but you do another. You say you are going to protect her yet you hurt her. Aren't you the one who said 'actions speak louder than words?'" I saw Sasuke's eyes go wide as he listened to Itachi's words. His eyes traveled down to my almost completely broken bones. His face dropped a little. He looked up at me with sorrow written all over him.

"Tenten, I-" I cute him off.

"Save it Sasuke, I know you didn't mean it. Your actions just got in the way of your thoughts. You didn't realize what you were doing just because of what someone said to you. I bet you aren't the only Uchiha who felt that way." I felt Itachi's stare on me, but I refused to look at him. He knew what I was talking about, but he didn't say anything. I leaned on Itachi's chest while wincing from the pain in my arms.

"Shadow, go get Hidan to get Tenten's Scythe and let the rest know that we are coming." As soon as Itachi said his last word I heard Shadow's flapping wings take flight and leave. I lifted my arms the best I could just to reach hold on to Itachi. He look down on me and noticed my struggles.

"Don't move Tenten, I don't want you hurting yourself anymore than you already are." He said.

"Itachi," I said while choking on my tears. He pulled me up and laid my arms on my lap. He held me tighter, a burst of wind hit me. I knew Itachi was traveling fast but the reason why remained a mystery. Itachi stopped and waited for a moment.

"Tenten!" I heard a voice call my name, so I turned my head to the source. I saw Zetsu as his whole singular self, Sasori and Deidara. They all walked over to me and examined me.

"Who did that to you Tenten? They look almost completely broken." Sasori said with a deadly glare.

"There are Konoha genin near by, what should we do with them?" Zetsu asked.

"Leave them alone, lets just leave." I said before anyone else could respond. I felt that their eyes were on me but I refused to look at any of them.

"But Tenten, your wrists! You'd be luck if you could lift a finger again by the looks of it. Shouldn't we make it even with the bastard who did this to you?" Deidara yelled.

"An eye for an eye just makes the world blind, there isn't any point in doing so. If you guys don't mind, I'd like to leave so I can heal correctly." I bit my lip trying my hardest not to cry in front of them. I glanced down at my bruised wrist. Sasuke was so upset with me, I didn't mean anything to offend him. I wonder if this is how he'd act if we ever did stay together or was that just a one time thing? It doesn't matter anymore, I doubt they are going to let me see him anymore or anyone else with out one of them being there. Speaking of not seeing anyone anymore, what were they planing to do with Konoha?

"What are you guys planing?" I looked up and looked at each one of them.

"About what?" Deidara asked.

"Konoha, and the Leaf Ninjas? What are you guys plotting?" They didn't say anything or even move, they just kept their eyes on me.

"That's not your concern anymore, but we don't plan on doing anything except what my little brother had said." Itachi responded while walking ahead not looking at me once.

"You all heard our conversation?" They all nodded.

"How?" I blushed, God I hope they didn't hear and see everything.

"We heard and saw everything you two said and did. Shadow gave us an update. You aren't allowed to go out on your own for a long time, we've all decided on that." Sasori said with a dangerous intent in his voice. I winced from the harshness of his voice.

"And if we catch you with Sasuke again, we will make sure that he doesn't see another light unless it's from the fires of Hell."