A/N: I can't believe I'm saying this, but other than the epilogue that I still have to write, this is the last chapter of "The Hidden Truth". Can you believe that it's over so quickly? I feel like we just met Kazumi, Miki, and the rest of the Akatsuki families yesterday, and now it's over. I miss them already! :,(.
Also, I hope that everybody will be okay with the way I end the story. Originally I had an entirely different ending in mind, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the original ending simply wouldn't work. With Kakashi and Tsunade as well as the original twelve Genin being the ones watching the videos, I realized that if this were reality, that the story would end very differently. Thus, I decided to change the ending to better fit the story. Maybe you'll like it or maybe you won't, but in the end, I think the new ending I wrote up fits this whole scenario much better than my original idea.
Considering how you probably haven't read the chapter yet, what I'm saying might be a tad confusing, so I will explain things more in depth at the end if you care to know about it. This story has definitely turned out very different from my original vision, but I'm glad that it has nonetheless. Honestly, I'm really quite proud of my first Naruto fanfiction. Hopefully all of you are enjoying it, too. :)
P.S.: Kurama831: Thanks so much for reviewing! I really appreciate it when people review! Also, I'm glad that you're enjoying my story this much. It makes me happy when people enjoy my writing! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I only own my OCs.
Chapter Ten: Itachi's Last Goodbye
More than anything, those congregated around the DVD player want to talk about Kazumi's last words to them. Everything she told them about Itachi keeps nagging at their minds like a bad dream that won't go away. The very thought that Itachi has been on the side of the Hidden Leaf Village this whole time and that everyone in the Great Shinobi Nations has hated him and wanted him dead for years now makes all of them sick to their stomachs. Sure there's always the thought that Kazumi might be lying or that she herself was deceived, but admittedly, nobody thinks that this is very likely; even Neji is beginning to doubt his opinion that Itachi was purely evil. In the end, it is their growing belief that an innocent man was killed in the worst kind of fashion.
"Do you really think that Itachi is innocent like Kazumi says, Granny Tsunade? Do you think that we've hated someone who was actually a good person all this time?"
A long moment passes where nobody in the room responds to Naruto. They stare off into space, deeply immersed in their own thoughts. It takes a few seconds, but at last the fifth Hokage replies to the blonde-haired teen with her brown eyes filled with uncertainty.
"I don't know for sure, Naruto, but it would certainly appear that way. That's why I'm turning to the elders. I want to know the details behind the annihilation of the Uchiha clan. If there really is something that I don't know, then I fully intend on learning about it."
Surprisingly, Naruto doesn't reply verbally. Instead the young jinjurichi gives a hesitant nod, as if in contemplation. A moment passes and he speaks again, a mixture of sureness and sadness in his voice.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm on Kazumi's side. I don't think that Itachi is the insane murderer that everyone thinks he is. Even if he wore that Akatsuki cloak, he was a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village the whole time."
Another lapse in dialogue ensues, but this one is much shorter than the previous. Only a second later, Ino confesses in the same mournful yet determined manner as Naruto.
"I believe it, too," she says. "Itachi wasn't evil, or even bad. Kazumi is telling the truth. She never would have taken the risk of breaking into Lady Tsunade's office otherwise."
"I just wish it didn't have to turn out this way for her," adds Kiba sounding downcast. "She should have left the videos before Itachi died. It would have given him a fighting chance."
Opening his mouth, Naruto is getting ready to share his thoughts once more. Of course, before he can get out a single word, Kakashi speaks out bluntly.
"Don't talk like Kazumi's videos are all in the past. Remember, there are still three more."
Eyes widening in realization, the teens exchange glances before looking back at the screen. As if on cue, the black screen lights up with a video that captures all of their attention. The whole time they're wondering how hard this is going to be to watch. At first the videos were very lighthearted and enjoyable, but as they get closer to the end, the Hidden Leaf ninjas are starting to feel the weight of the despair that the woman recording the videos most likely feels. Knowing that this is the last video of the Uchiha family together before Itachi's death, each of them watches with a type of adept focus that they weren't aware they possessed until now.
The Hokage's office intensely silent, they watch as a setting that they've never seen before comes across the screen. The first thing they see are tall, beautiful, sakura trees, their branches overflowing with emerald green leaves and freshly bloomed pink blossoms. Below the trees are thick green grasses, and above them is a sky that is very pleasantly blue without a cloud to be seen. At first neither Itachi, nor Miki, nor Kazumi is present. Less than a second later, however, the sounds of high-pitched and delighted giggles are heard. This is followed by four-year-old Miki sprinting across the screen, twin ponytails and blue dress bearing the Uchiha symbol swaying as she runs. Running in front of her, most likely in attempt to escape, is an orange ball of fur. As she chases it, she shouts happily.
"You aren't getting away, Snuggles! I need to catch you so you can put on the sweater!"
It is only after the small child speaks that Kazumi is heard. From her spot behind the camera, she laughs in what sounds like amusement. "Miki, you can't put your doll clothes on the kitty. He doesn't need clothes! He has a fur coat."
The child never hesitates in chasing her pet as she replies. "I know he doesn't need clothes, Mama. I want him to wear the sweater 'cause he'll look cute!"
It is here that Miki increases her speed, causing her to close the distance between herself and the fluffy animal. Now being only an inch or two away from him, the little girl jumps forward with her arms stretched outward in an attempt to snatch him up. It's only too sad for the child that they're in a grove filled with trees, because before she can get her tiny hands on him, the cat increases his own speed and dashes up the nearest tree trunk. Once this happens the girl frowns, marches over to the tree, and stomps her foot commandingly.
"Snuggles, it's not nice to run away! You need get down here now and put on your sweater!"
Not only is Kazumi's laughter heard, but now Itachi's soft chuckling can be heard as well. It's only after the Uchiha man makes a sound that the unseen brown-haired woman turns the camera in his direction. When Itachi comes into view he is shown standing with his arms leisurely crossed in front of his midsection, a small smile painting over his pale features, and amusement showing in his onyx eyes. For the first time in what feels like a long while, Itachi isn't wearing his Akatsuki cloak. Instead he is wearing plain black pants, a dark gray shirt with netting underneath, and black shinobi sandals with his lengthy ponytail hanging freely. In the background Miki can be seen jumping up and down in attempt to climb the tree, but everyone's primary focus in on Itachi.
His smile never fading as he watches his daughter, Itachi speaks to Kazumi without looking at her. "Thank you for agreeing to teleport us here, Kazumi. I know that it was a long distance for you to use your jutsu, but it has certainly been worth it to be back here again."
The woman replies with a smile in her voice. "Don't worry about it, Itachi. I've teleported longer distances before. It isn't a big deal." Pausing, she adds, "Besides. I've been wanting to come back here myself. Honestly, I don't know why we haven't. This is where we met, after all."
Once Kazumi's words are out, the world turns silent once more. The Leaf Shinobi note that the silence between the two lovers isn't anything heavy or intense. While the silence does feel a bit off, it is peaceful more than anything. The only thing that breaks the silence is the orange cat jumping down from the tree and scampering through the grass with Miki following along in a quick pursuit.
"Ha! I've got you now, Snuggles!"
The small child laughs as she runs outside of the camera's frame. It takes several moments, but at last the woman addresses her husband once more. Again, the sound of a smile can be heard.
"On that day five years ago, I bet neither of us realized that we would one day be married with a beautiful little girl and with baby number two on the way. It's amazing how much things change." With a giggle, she adds, "And to think, all I had to do was fall out of a tree and break your arm."
Closing his onyx eyes, Itachi takes a deep calming breath of nostalgia. "Yes, and all I had to do was show up on that particular day off with a book intending to read. With all the other times I'd been here prior to meeting you, I never imagined how different that day would turn out for me." Giving a soft chuckle, he continues. "You know, Kazumi, before we crossed paths, nobody has ever been bold enough to call me 'ponytail guy'."
Sounding happy, she responds easily. "Hey, I was stuck, you were the only one around to help me, and I didn't know your name. What was I supposed to call you?! And besides, until I fell from the middle branch and crushed you, your step-by-step instructions for climbing down were very helpful."
"Considering how you fell from the tree at all, I suppose that they weren't too helpful." Pausing, he adds, "Your teleportation jutsu is what was truly helpful. I never would have imagined that you would have been able to get me to a hospital that was so far away so quickly."
An odd type of smug amusement in her tone, Kazumi replies, "And I never would have imagined that the great and powerful Itachi Uchiha could be so easily defeated by a falling tree girl. Then again, I never thought that you would be nice enough to let me follow you around either. After two endless months of trying to make me leave you alone, I never expected you to give in to me so easily."
Nobody in the room expects it, but all of the sudden Itachi turns away from his place watching his daughter. His smile is still in place, but beyond this, his deep onyx eyes are filled with sadness. Not only are his next words a bit confusing to the Leaf ninjas, but they also strike them as surprising.
"Every man has weaknesses, Kazumi, and you have always been it for me. I did my best to talk you into leaving me be whenever I came inside of your village, and I even tried to force myself to stop coming here altogether, but in the end I could do neither." It is here that Itachi's smile fades completely and shifts into a frown of guilt. "The reasons I allowed you to stay with me stemmed from nothing but selfishness and denial. Hopefully a day will come when you can forgive me for that."
A long moment of silence passes between the two of them, the only noise being Miki shouting for Snuggles to stop kicking so she can get his paw through the sleeve. It takes a long few seconds, but at last Kazumi speaks. The only thing heard in her voice now is concern.
"Itachi, are you okay? You've been acting weird all day. This morning you got up early to make everybody pancakes, this afternoon at the doctor's office you looked like you were about ready to cry during my ultrasound, and then you tell me out of nowhere that you want to come back to my old village to visit. Until now I've done my best to ignore it, but I have to say that you're acting very unlike yourself." Pausing, she asks, "Is Deidara's death getting to you? I've noticed that your personality has changed since then. I mean, so has Kaminari's, but yours has changed in a different way."
Giving a deep, sad-sounding, sigh, the man replies to his wife. "If my personality has changed, it is only because I'm finally realizing that I've been wrong this whole time. I thought that I could stay with the Akatsuki, stay with you and our children, and that my past mistakes wouldn't come back to haunt me. I thought that with you, I could finally be free. It's only now that I'm realizing that I was wrong. I can't hide from the past, and I can't go back on the promise I made to myself. I'm only sorry that my denial and my petty selfishness are going to lead to the suffering of the people that I love most."
Kazumi no longer sounds concerned, but instead she sounds frightened; maybe even terrified. "Itachi, what are you talking about? What are you saying?"
Shutting his onyx eyes tightly, it is seen as Itachi does his best not to cry. Based on Kazumi's previous observation, this isn't the first time it happened that day, either. As the black-haired man holds back tears, he replies with only two simple sentences.
"I'm sorry that I can't hold back the rain anymore, Kazumi. I've held it back for as long as I can."
Everyone knows that Kazumi would like to say something more. Knowing her, she would never let this type of conversation come to an end so soon. However, neither she nor Itachi has a chance to say anything more on the subject. Less than a second later, Miki comes running into the frame of the camera with a pink sweater in hand and with a wide smile painting over her face. It couldn't be more apparent the childlike innocence of the tiny Uchiha girl.
"Daddy, Snuggles went up the tree again and he won't come down. Can you help me get him?"
Upon hearing the words of his daughter, Itachi's frown fades and turns into a smile. As happy as he tries to make it, sadness can still be seen underneath. Of course, Miki doesn't notice this. All of her focus is on getting a hold of the cat so she can shove it into the thick pink garment.
At last, Itachi replies. "Of course, little Uchiha. I can help you get the cat."
Jumping up and down, Miki cheers happily. "Yay!" Wrapping her tiny hand around Itachi's much larger finger, she tugs him in the necessary direction. "Let's go this way, daddy. Snuggles climbed the really tall tree over here."
Once this happens Kazumi releases a sigh of audible sadness, the screen going black only a moment afterward. Less than two seconds is what it takes for the next video to start. When it starts, it is very bluntly apparent that the end has come. Every individual detail about the video oozes with sorrow. A single instant of gazing at the screen is all it takes for the room to be filled with a sense of despair.
The women aren't seen, but due to the soft thudding of their footsteps it is very apparent that they're near. For the first few minutes of the video none of them speaks. They simply walk from room to room in silence, one of them recording every inch of the Akatsuki hideout with careful precision. Due to the fact that nobody speaks and that nobody is in front of the camera, none of the Leaf ninjas know this for sure, but it's pretty much a given fact that Kazumi is the person recording.
Save for the lovely scenery painted on the walls, the empty bed frames, and the occasional dresser, the rooms being recorded are entirely empty. All of the toys and belongings that once filled the rooms are completely gone, as are the fun, drama, and laughter of the people that once filled them. True there are some of those people left, but due to the few people who are missing, these rooms no longer contain the joy that they once did. This doesn't just apply to the northeast branch hideout that is nearly void of its previous inhabitants, but once the dialogue starts, those viewing learn that this applies to the Akatsuki women as well.
The first one to speak, as well as the first person to step into view of the camera, is the redheaded Hisa. She is back-dropped by colorful animals in cages along with a pretty blue sky that are painted on what used to be drab walls, telling them they're standing in Imae's empty zoo-themed bedroom. Sharp silver eyes appearing similar to a raging gray storm, she speaks sounding every bit as in anguish as those more recently widowed than herself.
"I just took a peek into the living room, and the kids are still asleep. We should get breakfast ready so they have something to eat before we head out. We have to wake them soon if we're going to get out of here before any of the remaining Akatsuki members show up."
A moment of silence passes, Kazumi replying to the eldest of the group a few seconds later. "I know, Hisa, and don't worry. I'll get started on some eggs and pancakes in a couple of minutes. I just wanted to walk around the hideout one more time." Giving a long sigh, followed by what sounds like a sob, she adds, "I spent six years of my life here with Itachi, you know. I don't want to leave without at least doing a goodbye recording. This way maybe Miki won't forget her daddy. I hope she doesn't forget her daddy... I would say the same for Kazuki, but...h-he'll never get to m-meet him!"
Once her words are out the Leaf ninjas learn for sure that the previous noise was indeed a sob, because now Kazumi is openly crying. A second is all it takes for the camera to fall to the ground. Apparently it tumbles over more than once, because it is seen as the scenery spins at an awkward three-hundred and sixty degree angle multiple times. By the time the camera is finally still again the three women are seen kneeling on the ground, Kaminari and Hisa engulfing Kazumi in tight hugs as they share in her tears. The women are seen at an upside down angle, but the viewing Leaf shinobi honestly don't care about this. All of their attention is focused on Kaminari's words as she does her best to console her friend. Or, more specifically, grieve over her own unfortunate situation.
"It's okay to cry, Kazumi. I just lost Deidara a couple months ago, and I've been crying too. Isi probably isn't going to remember his dad, but does it matter? Dei is the jerk that bombed himself to death and left his kid and his girlfriend!" After an intense moment of crying, the raven-haired girl continues. "My daddy was right about Deidara from the beginning. He told me that a man who won't marry me is a man who plans on leaving. Men who don't get married don't usually stick around. When he told me that I thought he was just being mean to Dei, but do you know what? My daddy was right about him! I never should have moved into the hideout with him! My daddy loved me, we had a nice house, and I had lots of friends and a job at a candy shop. My life was great! Why would I leave all of that behind for an S-rank criminal?!"
Another moment without dialogue passes, the group of women never breaking their hug and never ceasing in their sobbing. As they watch the scene, the surrounding Leaf ninjas can't help but feel incredible pain for the women who have found themselves in such an unbelievable situation. When Kaminari resumes speaking, their pain for them only increases.
"By the way, I took Isi and went to talk to my daddy a few days ago. After Hisa failed at getting help from her parents, I hoped that maybe he'd help us. You know...single mothers with nowhere to go and all? He's always been really quick to help people, so I thought that maybe he'd do the same for us."
Hisa, who wipes tears from her bloodshot silver eyes, replies to Kaminari's statement. "Well, is he going to lend us a hand, or no?"
Burying her watery emerald orbs into Hisa's shoulder, her tears come harder. "No! He wouldn't even let me in off the porch! He opened the window and told me to take my 'monster spawn' and leave the village forever. He said if I ever show up there again, that he's contacting the Hidden Stone Village and having their Anbu Black-ops take me and Isi away!" After a moment of heartbroken sobbing, the raven-haired girl continues. "What are we going to do now? Your parents aren't going to help us, Hisa, and I'm pretty sure your village isn't an option, Kazumi. So where do we go from here?"
Even from the upside down angle, it is seen as Kazumi frees an arm to rub circles into her swollen stomach as she replies to the girl; tears stream down her face as well. "I don't know, Kaminari. I really don't know. The only thing any of us knows for sure is that we have to get out of the hideout before any Akatsuki show up. Now that all of our men are dead, there's no reason for us to stay involved with them. They're dangerous, and we can't raise our kids here."
"Kazumi's right, Kaminari," says Hisa as she hugs them both tighter. "Where we go doesn't matter. Without our men on our side, it isn't safe for us to be here anymore. That's why we need to grab the sealing scrolls we put all of our stuff in, feed our kids and get them cleaned up, and then we need to hit the road. Deidara and Itachi are never coming back, and neither is Hidan (praise Jashin), so there's no point in us staying here."
Sniffling slightly, Kaminari gives a nod. "I know, Hisa. I'm just as much for leaving as the rest of you. It's just...I'm still getting used to Dei and Itachi being gone. It doesn't seem real."
Hisa never loosens her hug on the others as she speaks to them again. "I'm very sorry, but it is real. And you know what? Our children are real, too. And right now they need us more than ever; especially the child that hasn't been born yet." Pausing, she adds, "Remember, Akatsuki women stick together. Since our men are gone, it's time to put those words into action."
This time it is Kazumi who nods. "You're right, Hisa. Even if Itachi is dead, I still have to keep moving. Itachi wouldn't want me to cry. He would want me to stand up with the two of you and take care of our children. In fact, he's probably expecting me to. And if the situation was reversed, I know that he would do the exact same thing."
Wiping away one of her tears, Kaminari gives a small smile. "Of course he would, Kazumi. Even if I wasn't married to him, I could still tell that Itachi was the best husband ever. He would want you to be strong." Pausing, she adds, "And remember, those aren't just Itachi's kids we're protecting. Besides Itachi's little brother, Miki and Kazuki are the last of the Uchiha clan!"
All of the sudden Kazumi's tear-stained eyes widen, as if she's just coming to terms Kaminari's statement for the first time. "That's right," Kazumi says in an awed whisper. "I don't know why, but I almost never think of my kids as part of the Uchiha clan. I always think of them as my bubbly little girl who loves cats, and the son Itachi named himself. But the fact that they actually are the last of the Uchiha clan…it does add a new light to things."
It is apparent to the Leaf Shinobi that Hisa is taken off-guard by her words, because she gives a small frown of curiosity. "What do you mean by that?"
Rubbing the saltwater out of her eyes, Kazumi frees herself from their hug and stands up. She still doesn't look happy; far from it, really. In fact, she looks absolutely grieved. Yet, she still manages to appear a bit stronger than before.
At long last she answers Hisa's question. "Nothing much. Just that, since my kids are so rare, I should make sure that I stay strong so I can protect them." Pausing, she adds, "Your kids are rare too. You have the son of a great artist, and the daughter of an immortal. All of our children are special. So I want to help protect your children too."
"Thank you, Kazumi. Hearing you say that means everything," says Hisa.
"We might not have a thing left in the world or anywhere to go, but at least we have each other. If we didn't have each other, then our situation would really be desperate."
Those words of Kaminari's are the last thing the viewing shinobi hear before the screen cuts to black, leaving only one more video for them to watch. With only one video left to go, they stare at the screen in a dense mixture of uncertainty and reluctance. They already know what this video is, because Kazumi herself already told them. It's the last video Itachi left behind before he left to go fight Sasuke. Having no idea what was said in the video or why Kazumi would put something so personal in here, they all eye the screen hesitantly during the long three seconds in between videos. Once the video starts they know that they're destined to watch it, because it is something far too staggering to look away from.
The first thing they see when the screen lights up is Itachi. From the start of the videos to the videos' end, all of them must have seen Itachi at least a few dozen times. Throughout the times they've seen him, they've witnessed a variety of different personality traits within the man that none of them ever would have known about otherwise. They've seen him calm and collected, playful, happy, laughing, fatherly, irritated, curious, incredibly loving, and in some cases he's been stern. The viewing Leaf shinobi have seen all of these things inside of Itachi and more. However, none of them have ever seen the Uchiha man in that state he's in with this specific video.
When they see Itachi he isn't calm, collected, or anything of the sort. Instead he looks in a disheveled state like they've never seen him before. Where he's at in the hideout nobody knows, but his wrinkled Akatsuki cloak is tossed over the back of a wooden chair that is only partially within the shot. His long black ponytail has a few strands coming loose from the tie holding it back, not to mention that it is also a bit ruffled. His dark purple nail polish, which was always perfectly intact before this, now has noticeable chips in it as if he hasn't bothered with repainting his fingers for a while now. Not only that, but for once his isn't wearing the necklace with the three silver rings containing the rubies. Instead he holds the necklace in his free hand. What's most noticeable about him, however, are his eyes.
His deep onyx eyes are surrounded by red puffiness, standing in steep contrast to his notably pale skin. Not only that, but his eyes are also a tad bit bloodshot. The redness isn't so bad that he appears to have pink eye, but it is just noticeable enough so that a person can tell that he has spent some time crying before turning on the camera. If someone wasn't paying close enough attention, Itachi's bloodshot eyes could easily be missed. Of course, they aren't missed by a single one of the shinobi surrounding Tsunade's desk. Each and every one of them notices Itachi's eyes, because not only are they puffy and slightly bloodshot, but they're also filled with complete and utter agony.
Using his hand that is holding the necklace, Itachi shakes the weathered piece of jewelry down so that it rests on his wrist. The moment his fingers are free, Itachi buries them in his raven locks in what appears to be a mixture between torment and sorrow. Sliding down the rock wall that he was previously leaning against, the Uchiha works his way down into a sitting position while being careful not to drop the camera. It's only once he's sitting against the stone wall with his fingers buried in his hair that Itachi speaks at last. When he speaks, it becomes apparent that the only thing that could ever reveal more inner turmoil than his appearance would be the sound of his voice.
Looking deep into the lens of the camera with obsidian-colored eyes, Itachi begins pouring his heart out to his wife through the video. "Kazumi, more than anything I wanted to speak to you in person before leaving this morning. If I could, I would look you in the eye and tell you all of this while sitting directly in front of you. It's only too sad that I couldn't bring myself to do that. Had I woken you, I would have lost control of my emotions in front of you instead of in solitude, and then I never would have been able to tell you everything that I want to say."
Pausing, he gives an emotion-filled sigh before continuing.
"There's so much I want to do before I end this video and leave you, Kazumi. I wish I could watch you chase Miki around the hideout and hear your voice one last time. I wish I could listen to Miki giggle one last time, and I wish I could get the chance to see what Kazuki looks like. I want to help you through the entire birthing process, see Kazuki walk and talk, and see Miki grow to love her baby brother. I want to do each and every one of these things, Kazumi, so know that leaving you is the most difficult thing I've ever done. If I could, I would stay with you and our family and be happy forever. My family makes me happy."
Again Itachi falters in his speech, his entire demeanor being overcome by emotion. He does his best to hold it all in, but it is seen as tears start to overflow. He doesn't hide them or try to wipe them away. Instead he lets them flow, doing his best to talk through them.
"I love you, Kazumi. I never knew how much a man could love a woman until I loved you. After agreeing to destroy my clan I didn't think that my heart was capable of feeling love anymore, and then I met you. You changed my life for the better, and now I'm changing your life for the worse. Not just your life, but the lives of our children. I am so sorry for doing this to my family, Kazumi. You, Miki, and Kazuki never have to forgive me for leaving. I am a man who has made far too many mistakes, and my selfishness and denial has been one of them.
"Around the time we met, I thought more about how having you would affect me than about the affect it would have on you and our children. It is only because of my selfishness that you, Miki, and Kazuki have to pay the price. I never should have allowed anything between us to go this far. You have made me the happiest man alive, Kazumi, and I'm sorry that I have to make you suffer this way."
Pausing once more, Itachi gives a small smile despite his sorrow as he continues.
"Yet, as sorry as I am about the suffering you'll have to go through, I am still very glad that I married you. You are what made me happy again. When I say that you have made me the happiest man alive, I mean it completely. Never has a person made me smile and laugh as much as you. Before meeting you I'd never been involved in a food fight, or been happy about getting drenched by rain, or chased someone purely for enjoyment instead of for the sole purpose of catching them. I'd never been kissed before you kissed me, never seen a pregnancy test before I saw yours, never had to go into 'Babies 'R Us' and get stared at like a crazy person before your pregnancy with Miki, and I never had to learn how to make train noises until feeding our daughter. Also until meeting you, I never knew that I was ticklish or that I was talented at painting parakeets onto nursery walls. Before meeting you, Kazumi, I never knew that I could be so happy.
"I would like it if our happiness would last longer, but there are some things that just can't be changed. This is my last confession to you, Kazumi, so know that I mean every word of what I say. Once I'm gone, I know that our children are in good hands. There isn't a doubt in my mind that you will remain alongside Hisa and Kaminari for quite some time. You alone would be able to give our children all of the love and attention they could ever need, so there is no doubt that our children will receive extra love with them so close-by. As for Imae and Isi, I'm sure that you will love them just as much as our own.
"Also, once Miki and Kazuki get older and start to wonder about me, you know what to do. After all, I'm sure you haven't been filming our entire lives all of these years for nothing. When it comes down to the story of the Uchiha clan assassination, tell them about it whenever you're ready. Or if you decide that it's better to keep the truth a secret, then that is also fair. I trust you completely, Kazumi. Just please don't go share the truth with absolutely everyone. A stunt like that could throw the Hidden Leaf Village into an outrage; maybe even the entire Land of Fire."
It is here that the man pauses once more. His features are still filled with absolute despair, but he also appears to be contemplating something. Most likely, he's contemplating the very last thing he wants to say before shutting off the video camera. It takes several long moments, but at last he speaks.
"This is all I have to say, Kazumi. I hope that one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me, but I don't expect you to. If you and our children never forgive me, I understand completely. Of course, even with as much as you might despise me, know that I love you. I love you and our family with all of my heart, Kazumi. And no matter what happens, I will always love you."
For the first time today, the Hokage's office isn't silent. Not by a mile. Besides Kakashi, Tsunade, and Neji, there isn't a dry eye in the room. Everyone held out for as long as they could during the final three videos, but in the end, Itachi's final goodbye to Kazumi managed to bring forth a river of tears. Not a single Hidden Leaf Shinobi has moved out from behind Lady Tsunade's desk. They all remain in the same places that they have throughout the duration of the videos, all of them doing their best to get a hold of themselves before speaking. For some, this happens more quickly than for others.
Kakashi, who appears very saddened by the fate of the people in the videos but who hasn't shed a single tear, is the first person to speak. Being the copy ninja, he doesn't beat around the bush neither does he sugarcoat the facts. Rather, he is blunt and to the point.
"We need to destroy it, Lady Tsunade. If there's one thing that Itachi was right about at the end of the video, it's that we can't go around telling everyone the information we've learned. If something like this leaks out, it could force the village into panic or outrage." After a moment of slight hesitation, he continues. "We need to seal the content on that DVD so nobody else can view it, and then we need to take measures to dispose of it properly. We can't risk the wrong person getting a hold of it."
Narrowing her brown eyes thoughtfully, Tsunade gives a firm nod. "You're right, Kakashi. We need to seal it and destroy it immediately. The sooner the better."
All it takes are the words from Kakashi and Tsunade to force the tears of the adolescents to a halt. Unsure of how to react to the news of their plans, they stare at the two adults in surprise before vocalizing their thoughts. The first to speak is, of course, Naruto.
Wiping tears away from his sapphire eyes using his sleeve, he says, "You aren't actually going to get rid of Kazumi's home videos, are you, Granny Tsunade? She spent years filming them, and risked her neck by breaking into your office and leaving them for you. We can't just... betray her like that!"
"Who would you rather betray, Naruto? Kazumi or Itachi?" Sakura asks as she inches closer to him. "Sure by destroying the DVD we're betraying Kazumi, but by keeping it and potentially allowing it to leak out we're betraying Itachi. Remember, Itachi doesn't want anyone knowing the truth about him. His loyalty to the Hidden Leaf village, his family, whatever happened with the destruction of the Uchiha clan that we don't know about, Itachi didn't want us to know any of it. And really, I wish that I didn't know any of it. That way he could actually have his dying wish."
Naruto doesn't respond to Sakura. He simply furrows his brow in consideration, as if he'd never even considered that keeping the video would be betraying Itachi until now. Meanwhile, as Naruto mulls over this new thought, it is Shikamaru who voices his opinion next.
"Personally, I'm all for destroying the home videos. They wouldn't just cause the Leaf Village to panic if they leaked out, but if Sasuke catches wind that he's an uncle and that he widowed his sister-in-law, I'm pretty sure it could cause him to turn even more unstable. The last thing we need is a rogue Sasuke who's crazier than he is now."
From a few spaces away, Lee chimes in concurrence. "I must agree with you, Shikamaru. The last thing I would want to happen would be for the village to fall into a state of alarm, and for Sasuke to be put under psychological distress. Not to mention that I also do not want to go against Itachi's dying wishes. I say that we seal the DVD and then destroy it."
After Lee speaks, the rest of the people in the room begin agreeing to destroy the DVD in what can only be explained as a domino effect. First come Neji and Tenten who say that being rid of the home videos would be the safest course of action for the village. Then there's Ino, who says that even though she wishes that they could do more for the Akatsuki women and their children, she still believes that destroying the DVD would serve the most purpose.
"I know she said that she wants everyone to know the truth right now, but she might regret it later," states the flaxen-haired kunoichi. "Keeping it a secret might be for Kazumi's own good."
Choji doesn't say much. He simply digs into one of the remaining bags of chips and says, "If it's for the good of the village, destroy it."
Hinata, Kiba, and Shino don't have much to say on the subject either. Knowing that there isn't much to add and that all of their bases have been covered, the trio simply nods in concurrence while giving short, simple, responses.
"I wouldn't want to see anything bad happen to the village, and I wouldn't want to see Kazumi regret giving us her home videos," says Hinata. "Please get rid of it."
"If Itachi didn't want to go around telling everybody his secrets, then I don't see why we should advertise it. I say we go with Kakashi Sensei's idea and use the sealing jutsu," states Kiba.
Out of everyone in the room, Shino says the least. "Destroy it."
Once everyone in the room is in agreement, all eyes shoot to the single person who hasn't yet said anything. Right now, all of their eyes are still on him. The one they're looking at would be the blonde-haired jinjurichi who sits leaned against the wall with his knees pulled to his chest and his blue eyes still a bit watery from earlier. Feeling their gazes burning into his skin, Naruto shuts his eyes against the tears as he speaks to them.
"Okay, fine. If it means protecting the village, Sasuke, and Itachi's wife and kids, then we can destroy it. Just promise me that we won't forget that Kazumi and the other Akatsuki women are out there somewhere. With all of the pain and the loss they've gone through, they deserve to be remembered long after the proof that they exist is gone. Don't let the risks Kazumi has taken be for nothing." Pausing slightly, he adds, "And after we leave this room, we need to promise that we'll keep our eyes opened for them. Remember, Kazumi said that she might come back."
It is only after Naruto finishes that the room finally falls silent. Not because they're shocked or appalled by Naruto's words, but because they're quietly considering them. As they fall silent, the only sound that's heard is the fifth Hokage standing up from her spot and moving toward the portable DVD player. A second later Kakashi stands up as well and follows Lady Tsunade to the large empty space that has been cleared in the center of her desk.
Nobody looks at them as they remove the disk from the device; neither do they look at them as they set it down on the wooden surface and as Tsunade begins performing hand signs. Less than ten seconds is what it takes for loud shattering to sound off, letting them know that the metallic disk was broken into pieces after the sealing. Now if anybody decides to get curious enough to put it back together with ninjutsu, they won't be able to watch it either way due to the seal.
After it's broken and all of the pieces are disposed of, it is Sakura who replies to her friend gently yet with honesty.
"Don't worry, Naruto. We're never going to forget about the home videos, or about Kazumi and her children. We won't forget about the rest of the Akatsuki families, either. Honestly, I couldn't forget about them even if I wanted to."
"I'm sure that she'll come back to the Leaf Village at some point just like she said she would," adds Kakashi from the other side of the room. "And when she does, we'll be here waiting for her."
A/N: Well, besides the upcoming epilogue, this is it for "The Hidden Truth". Again, my original plan for the ending was very different. When I first wrote this chapter, I was going to have Tsunade make two more copies of the DVD and give one to Kakashi and the other to Naruto. I also had this idea where Sasuke was going to find out about Kazumi, Miki, and the baby, and I was going to do something very big and dramatic. But then I got to thinking about it and it occurred to me: "Hold on a second... These home videos contain vital information that could have a HUGE impact on the Hidden Leaf Village... Tsunade and Kakashi would never take the risk of letting a DVD like that live!" Not only that, but it was also stated once or twice that Itachi didn't want this information about him getting out. Would they actually be willing to betray Itachi's legacy and risk making the village (and potentially Sasuke) angry?
So, after considering all of this, I decided to have them collaboratively make the choice to destroy the DVD. Considering the characters who watched the home videos as well as the context of the situation, having them do away with it seemed to make the most sense. Hopefully all of you are happy with my decision regarding the ending. Personally, I have to say that I like it better that they destroyed the DVD. It seems far more like the realistic choice.
Also, as a side note, what did you think of the ending? Of the story as a whole? Are any of you curious about the epilogue? If you wouldn't mind sharing your thoughts by reviewing, I would greatly appreciate it! I would love hearing what you think of "The Hidden Truth", especially now that the only part left for me to write is the epilogue. I would really like to know if my first Naruto story turned out well, or if it could use some work.
Thank you all for reading, and thanks for the follows and favorites! Until the epilogue!
Forever and always,
OCQ