Since this had been asked the most I thought I'll give you guys an interlude. Even though it can also count as part of the stories, I realized that I haven't really been giving Naru and Itachi some alone time, it possible have more to do with their different ages. I wanted Itachi to be fifteen instead of seventeen like in canon but then again who would live a three year old with a newborn?

Well anyways on with the story. Oh one more thing, I like to thank all who takes the time to review.
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The Weasel and the Sorceress
Interlude: The Promise

There have been many things that can shock people, then there are the things that can make a person cry in joy, the news that Naru was given had her going. "Huh?" The young blonde asked as she tilted her head to the side. Sitting in a chair across from her were the Yamankas, Ino's family.

"I'm sorry Naru." Ino said looking down. "I asked dad and mom to adopt you because I was tired of how you were being treated." Ino said. "Of course this was before I leaded that that your sensei was also your grandmother." Naru sighed and gave Ino a smile.

"Ino, that's not why I'm confused," The young sorceress said. "I'm confused because you're crying." Ino looked up and her best friend, and her new sister. "Grandmother had her chance to raise me." Naru said. The Yamanaka's could see the sad look on her face though. Ino rubbed Naru's back trying to calm her down.

"Anyways, I hear that you're planning on a month long training trip with Jiraiya." Kara Yamanaka said. Naru looked up at her and nodded. "Where will you go?" Naru gave her a soft smile. "Whirlpool." Was the only thing Naru said. "It's the home of the Uzumaki clan and according mom's journals." The young sorceress sighed. "She also goes on to say that there are still powerful scrolls hidden away there."

Ino and her family looked at Naru. "Scrolls, which she says will help me." Naru was about to say some more however there was a knock at the door. Kara excused herself, only to have come back a few seconds later. "Naru, this is for you." She said as she handed a letter to Naru. Naru blinked as she saw the crest of the Uchiha clan.

Opening the letter Naru once again blinked. "It's a request form Sasuke's mother." The young sorceress said. "All it says is please come alone, tomorrow night at her hospital room." Kara and Inochi looked at one other having a pretty good idea what it was about.

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Mikoto Uchiha watched as her eldest son was looking out the window. "What are you thinking about?" She asked softly, know that he was probably thinking about what she had just told him a few minutes ago. Itachi didn't really say anything as he had turned and started staring out the window.

"I think it's a bad Idea." Itachi said. "She is five years younger than I am, I don't think it will really work." Mikoto smiled. Oh she knew that Itachi liked the young sorceress, she had known that form this first day that her eldest had meet the young girl. However it's the different in age that had prevent him from seeking her out as a possible girlfriend. It also helped that Naru had a crush on Itachi, this could go either way.

"She'll have until she turns sixteen to make up her mind." Mikoto said. "After all, it's not really written. Kushina and I thought it would be sweet if our oldest have gotten married." Itachi turned around and looked at her. "Kushina was my sister in all but blood; a married would have bought us closer." At the mention of her late friend Mikoto started crying. Itachi walked over and sat on her bed and started to hug her.

"I'll Honor the pack, but Naru will have to decide if this is what she really wants." Itachi said. "It's almost like what I did for the arrangement between the Hyuuga clan and the Uchiha clan." Mikoto looked up. "The clans should be united to sever and protect Konoha as one, not fight among ourselves."

Mikoto nodded. "Who did the Hyuuga pick?" She asked. Itachi stood back up and looked out the window again. "Hiashis' eldest, Hinata." That had surprised Mikoto. Then again Itachi had that look on his face again. "She concerted to be the weakest among the main branch of the clan."

Mikoto frowned at that. "She's more like her mother and doesn't want to hurt anyone, however I found that she is a good choice as Sasuke's wife, she has a good heart, is smart, she stronger than most people give her credit for, and…." At this point Mikoto was wondering if Itachi was talking about Hinata, or Naru. "She a good match for Sasuke, and the clan."

He was thinking about Nar, Damn you Fugaku. Mikoto thought. "Mother, you do realize that if I marry Naru, I will no longer be an Uchiha." Mikoto nodded. "Yes dear I do." Mikoto said. "However one of the things that Kushina and I have talked about is that if any child that you and Naru have…" She could see the blush on Itachis' face ever if he is trying to hide it. "That child will have a different family name depending if the child will have chakra or mana."

Itachi looked at her. "While it's true that the Uzumaki clan did have non-mana users, Kushina felt that the clan needed to be restarted, so until the clan is back in high numbers again those that are able to use mana will take the name Uzumaki, or the family name of the husband/wife family name if that child has chakra or not." Mikoto explained.

She saw the look on Itachi's face. "Naru will not do that to any of her children, it would be like the Hyuuga's and their branch family." Mikoto nodded, she had told Kushina that same thing herself. Kushina agreed but she could still dream.

The night for the two ended as Itachi left so he could do his job as an Anbu captain, as he left the room he saw Naru making her rounds. Naru and her team mates have been working at the hospital as part of their training, granted they should be training to improve their skills for the finals, sighing he walked up to the young medic and tapped her shoulder as she was looking over some charts.

"Just a minute." Naru said. She closed the file and started blushing. Cute. Itachi thought. "Shouldn't you be getting ready for the Finals?" He asked. Naru smiled and nodded. "This is my last night before my senseis and I leave the village for a training trip." Itachi tilted his head.

"You're leaving the village?" he asked. Naru again nodded. "My spells are too dangerous for me to practice with them inside the village; Sensei Tsunade and Sensei Jiraiya are going to take me somewhere safe." That much to Itachi's surprise had him both glade and sadden at the same time. He wasn't sure as to why he was sad. Maybe it had something to do with him not seeing the young woman before him.

"I was…um hoping that you would come with him." Naru said with a little blush. Itachi looked at her. "Well, um it's so that you could train me in kenjustu." This caused Itachi to blink. However before he could say anything though as several people ran passed them as they both could hear yelling from the main hallway. "I have to go but I'll talk to you later Itachi." Naru said as she ran off.

Itachi watched as she ran off, He couldn't help but think. She has a cute butt. After slapping himself in the head for that thought he couldn't really stop thinking about her request. Better talk to the Hokage about that, see if I can take the month off to help train her, wonder if the rest of her team is going?

After that thought Itachi left to go see what had happen. In the hall way bleeding out on the floor was none other than Hayate Gekkou, a close friend to Itachi. After kneeing next to the older man Itachi asked. "What happen?" Naru was on the other side of him, trying her hardest to heal the young man but something was blocking her healing powers.

He was healing but at a very slow pace. Hayate weakly looked at Itachi. "Message…must get…Hokage." Hayate told him weakly. Itachi looked up. "Did anyone see what happen?" He asked. A nurse walked up to him. "He came in by himself, we were about to take him to an operating room when that little monster over there told us not to move him." She said monster while pointing to Naru, who in turned glared at her.

"I need someone to get the Hokage." Naru said. "I have him stable but there is something blocking my healing powers." Naru closed her eyes and with her hands still over Hayate's heart she had poured more of her healing powers into him. "Curaga!" Naruto yelled out, as the healing spell is starts work Itachi had ordered a nearby ninja to go and get the Hokage but to make sure that Yuugao Uzuki doesn't know what happen.

"Damn it." Naru cursed. "I'm losing him someone get over here and start using your healing jutsu!" Naru yelled out. Several people ran to Naru's side and started to use there jutsu to try and heal the young man. "We need to move him." Someone yelled at Naru. "Shut up, he's losing too much blood, and he'll lose more if we move him." Naru yelled back. "We can't risk his life anymore then we are." Otherwise I could use a more powerful heal spell. Naru thought.

Several people watch as Naru and several doctors work on the young man. Naru was right; something was blocking the healing abilities, just before Naru decided to cast a stronger healing Spell Hiruzen Sarutobi walked in with several People, one of them had purple colored hair. Kneeing next to the dying young man Hiruzen asked him why he was called. "Orochimaru….is pla… (Cough) planning to attack….uring…chuunin…exam…" Naru didn't have time to wait. "I'm sorry Grandfather but….this can't wait." The glowing around Naru's hands changed from a soft green to a blinding white color. "Oh, blessed and humble hand of God, life and breath of Mother Earth, come before me and show your great compassion and deliver us: RECOVERY!"

The spell caused Hayate to jump a little bit off the ground, the spell seemed to have started to work until the wound reopen and Hayate started to bleed even more. Naru had a look of shock on her face; this could mean one of two things to the young teen.

One, Hayate had died after he gave his message or…Naru started crying she didn't want to think about it but the risk of the spell was high, which spells Naru cried out another heal spell. "Curaja!" The spell seemed to be working however Hayate was still pale and was hardly breathing, after the wound was heal everyone healed their breaths, Hayate wasn't breathing and upon checking for a pulse he had none.

Naru had started CPR the moment she felt Hayate heart stop. After about two minutes and there was no change Naru got up and turned to run, she ran right into Itachi and started to pull away from him, only for Itachi to wrap his arms around her and held her as Naru started crying. Itachi for his part could believe what he was doing he had never done this before.

"He lost too much blood." One of the doctors said. "You kept us from getting him to an Operating room. He's dead because of you." Several people had to agree with him. Naru didn't say anything she was still crying in Itachi's arms. "Anbu, arrest Naru Uzumaki for the murder of Hayate Gekkou." Hiruzen sighed as he stood back up.

"Delay that order." Hiruzen said. "Naru was doing what she thought was right." The aging village leader said. "What was stopping you from getting blood and being it to Naru and the young man?" He had questioned the doctor. "That may be true Honored Hokage but the fact remains that she had disregarded the staff orders and told us not to move him."

"If I may sir?" A nurse said. "In Naru's defense, she arrived just as several men had run off back into the village. I'm not sure since I was trying to find a doctor." She glared at the doctor who had yelled at Naru. "Only to have found that two of them having sex in the back room." Hiruzen turned to look at the two doctors that the nurse was glaring at.

"Itachi." Hiruzen said to the young man. "Take Naru home, and leave a message for her to see me tomorrow." The young man nodded. As soon as Naru and Itachi left though Hiruzen turn on to the doctor and punched the man in the face. "You have a lot of nerve to try that bull shit with me." He then turned to everyone in the room.

"Anbu, I want the village searched, talk to the young woman hear to get a description of the men." He then turned to Kakashi who had just walked in. "Kakashi, Take Yuugao home." Kakashi nodded. The two left. "Sir, what about Hayate's message?" Hiruzen looked at the young man. "Call for a Shinobi only council meeting, don't let any members of the civilian council find out." With a nod, the ninja left to gather those of council. Anko who was a close friend to Hayate stood next to Hiruzen. "What about Naru?" She asked. "Do you think she'll be okay?"

Hiruzen looked at her and sadly shook his head. "Naru thinks that she had killed him, he was already gone after I had gotten his message." Anko gave Hiruzen a look. "Naru has powerful healing magic, way wasn't she able to heal him?" Hiruzen knelt next to Hayate's body. "The weapon used to kill him had a poison on it."

Carefully Hiruzen figured the wound and looked at it. The blood on his figure was darker than it should have been. "But who has the knowledge to stop a high powered healing spell?" Anko asked. Hiruzen sighed. "Several people who know an Uzumaki." He then looked at Anko. "Orochimaru's sword has a high poison that it could kill a person in seconds." Anko looked at him. "He was also a student to Kushina, when she was teaching about poisons that can block a person's ability to heal, or to cause others from casting a healing jutsu."

Anko's fist had tightened by that point. "It's a safe bet as to order the attack on Naru two years ago." Hiruzen nodded to the doctors to take Hayate's body away and to clean up the blood. "It would explain why the scar on Naru's back still reopens, even after a few years." Hiruzen said as the two started to walk out.

"Why sir, why would he do something like that, and doesn't Naru heal normally?" Hiruzen nodded at her question. "True, however she does have two sources of help; Kyuubi's chakra would start to heal her the moment something would happen, while it's trying to heal her Kitsuna is using her skills to purify the wound." That made a little sense to Anko.

"Anyways, enough about that we have a war to plan for and only a month to prepare."

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During his walk to Naru's home, the young teen had woken up and had asked Itachi to put her down. After complying her request, the young woman didn't bother looking at Itachi. "Maybe their right." She said softly. "Maybe I am a monster." Itachi placed his hand on her shoulder.

"It wasn't your fault Hayate died." He said. Naru shook her head, crossed her arms over her chest and looked down. "The recovery spell is a high class healing spell, higher than the Curaja spell, the problem with the spell is that it uses the psychical energy of the person I'm trying to heal."

Naru didn't move a muscle. "I knew of the risks but I couldn't help it and I took a chance." Itachi walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her, placing his hands over hers. "You did want you had to, the thing was he had died after he given the Hokage his message." He said, it didn't help though as Naru started crying again.

The two stood in the street. Itachi was holding her but he was confused as to way he was doing so. Naru was crying for the young man that had died in her care, she had turned around and had buried her head into his chest while Itachi still had his arms around her.

After a while Naru claimed down and the two had started moving again. Once Naru was home she ran into the house and straight to her room. Kara and Ino were right behind her. Inochi walked up to him. "What happen?" Itachi sighed and started to explain what had happen, not sure as to what had happen to Hayate, he'll have to get the report later.

"You can probably expect a meeting to happen ether later to night or early tomorrow morning." Itachi said as he turned to leave. "Does Naru know yet?" Inochi asked. Itachi looked over his shoulder. "No, Mother will tell her tomorrow at lunch during their meeting." With that said Itachi left Inochi, who had turn and walked back into the house, closing the door.

However he had missed seeing a figure standing in a black robe and an orange and black mask looking into Naru's room.

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"You wanted to see me ma'am?" Naru said as she was allowed into Mikoto's room. The older woman looked up and nodded. "Yes, Please come in. we have a lot to talk about." She said. Naru come in her mood a little bit better after she had talked with the Hokage, but she was still sadden by Hayate's death.

"I understand that you will be leaving soon to train." Naru nodded her head. "My I ask where you will be going?" Naru sat down in a chair that was close by to the bed, Naru thought about it for a little while before she looked at Mikoto.

"Whirlpool." Naru said. "It's the only safe place where I can work on my spells and not have anyone spy on me." Mikoto had a frown on her face. "I understand that there is another Uzumaki in the finals." Again Naru nodded. "Do you think that she or he might go there as well?" Naru shook her head.

"No, reports say that she had gone back to Iwa country and had started her training there." Mikoto nodded. Then she blinked as she looked at Naru, she had Kushina's thinking face. "There's more isn't there?" Naru nodded.

"In my mother's journal she had mention something about a vault." Naru said she wasn't looking at Mikoto however Mikoto could still see that Naru was in thought. "The vault can only be open by an heir of the Uzumaki clan; do you know what that means?"

Mikoto thought about it. Kushina had once told her that the Uzumaki was spilt into two families, much like the Hyuuga's, however unlike the Hyuuga there didn't have the branch members placed under a curse. "I believe what she means is, that only an Uzumaki of royal blood can open the doors." Mikoto smile at Naru's confused look.

"You'll find out what I mean when you get there little one." Mikoto said. "However that is not why I had called you here." Mikoto took Naru hand and had started to explain to the young teen about a promise that she and Kushina had made more than sixteen years ago.

A few minutes later….

"I'm what!?" Naru had all but screamed. "Why tell me all this now? I'm only thirteen I'm not ready for marriage, worst yet I refused to settle down and start having children as soon as I tie the knot." Naru said as she crossed her arms. Mikoto smiled, at least she was taking this better than Itachi did, however what she said next had Naru blushing like crazy. "You're fiancé would be Itachi."

Not only was Naru blushing but she had somehow fallen out of her chair. "Come again?" The young teen said. "We had wanted our first children to marry, by this and the law of Whirlpool Itachi would have to be the one to give up his family name." Mikoto said. What Mikoto hadn't told the two was that when Itachi was five and Naru only a few days old Itachi had said something that he may have forgotten.

"Mother, when she is old enough I wish you marry Naru." Itachi had a look of love in his eyes as he had said that, Makoto had wondered what he meant by that at the time Naru had short red hair and as she was looking at her son she could see that his fingers was brushing the hair gently.

"What's wrong? I thought that you liked Itachi." Makoto said. Naru stopped her rant and said. "I do." Naru had to cover her mouth. Sighing though, Naru looked at Makoto. "But he is five years older than I am."

Makoto smiled. "Do you really think that age matters in love?" She asked. She could see it in Naru's eyes, she didn't just have a crush on Itachi, she was downright in love with him. "So it was you that would leave chocolate on our door step." Naru nodded with a blush. "I can't explain it, but every time I see him, I turn into a shuttering mess and I feel like I what to faint." Naru frowns at that. "Kind of like Hinata when she's around Sasuke."

Makoto took Naru hands in her. "Have you told him yet?" She asked. Naru shook her head and looked away. "I don't want to hold him back from finding someone his own age." Naru took on a sadder look. "Or someone that is trash." Mikoto knew what she meant. Sitting up a little bit more she had taken Naru into her arms and held the young teen for a little while.

After a while Mikoto let Naru go. "Please think about what I said." She tells the teen. "In the end it's all up to you if you want to go throw with the engagement or not." Naru nodded and got up. "I sorry but I have to go and pack, we're leaving later in the day, and grandmother for some reason wants to stop at a gambling hall for some extra money, we both know how that will turn up."

Mikoto nodded and smiled at Naru. "Please come and see me when you return. I'll tell you about the time your mother had caught your father peeping on her at the hot springs." Mikoto laughed at the look on Naru's face when she said that. She may not be allowed to tell the teen about her parents yet, but that doesn't mean she can't tell her about their younger days.

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Naru was walking down the street. She was meeting up with her team as they were going to leave for training in her family old village. Tsunade said that the village wasn't going to be pretty and to be prepared.

Naru was hoping that she can at least get some answers as to who her mother and father was. The only clue that she had was K. Uzumaki, and when Naru had check any and all records of any other Uzumaki is the village was named Kushina Uzumaki, Konoha's Red Sorceress, and Naru's Idol.

Was it possible that this Kushina was Naru's mother? If so what had happened to her? Was she even alive and on a secret mission or was she killed in the Kyuubi attack all those years ago. Naru wanted answers; hopefully she'll find them in Whirlpool.

Arriving at the gate Naru could see that her teammates where already there waiting for her. Sakura had a smile on her face and Shikamaru looked bored as always. Before anything could be said an old man, with white long hair, tattoos under his eyes that looked like tears of blood and a horned head band, had walked up to them along with Tsunade, and Itachi.

Seeing Itachi had brought a blush to the teens face, this caused the other two to look at her. "I had asked to come along to help train your teammates." Itachi said. Naru nodded. Tsunade took over from there. "Listen up, we only have a few weeks left before the finals, luckily Naru knows of a time spell that will help us out."

Naru nodded she had used it once before as a test and there were no side efforts of it. "I must warn you though; Whirlpool is a destroyed village that was attacked during the second ninja world war. So don't expect much."

As the small group left, Naru once again stopped just outside of the gates, turning around she looked back at the village that she was born in and loved, she couldn't help but feel that something bad was going to happen when she got back for the finals, something that was going to change her life and the lives of her friends.

She would have thought about it some more, however Itachi had called out to her, turning around and looking at the young man she blushed again looking at him and having thought about a life that they may or may not have as husband and wife. For now that should remain friends, if what you call they have a friendship.

To be continued…

Well there you go. Now to be honest with you this feels more like a chapter then an interlude. Tell me what you think about it and if I should just go ahead and make it chapter nine instead.

Now as for Hayate, I wanted him to live, something that not a whole lot of people do. In the end I had him live long enough to get the message to the Hokage as soon as possible. Having him die shortly after delivering said message made his death more honorable.

As for not moving him, Naru wanted him to stay where he was, this is because once he is moved to an Operating room she wouldn't have been able to help him because she isn't allowed in there. Naru didn't really want him moved because she felt she had the better chance at healing him. I'm no doctor so I'm not sure what I said was true or not.

I hoped that you all liked the little Naru Itachi scene, and I kind of gave Naru Hinata shyness when she's around him. Yes Naru does love Itachi but she knows that she has little to no chance with him as she is five years younger than his is. This way it made into a much better realty than what Hinata has in canon, little to no chance of being with their love ones. (I'll be pissed off if at the end Naruto ends up with that little stocker.)

Itachi on the other hand also has feeling for Naru, but like Naru he feels that he shouldn't be with her because of his age, he wants Naru to be happy with someone her own age. (There will be hints of Shikamaru liking Naru.) However he himself will watch and protect Naru from the shadows if he has to.

Well that's it for this chapter/Interlude, once more let me know if you think I should change it to chapter nine or leave it as it is.

Kidan out.