A/N: Thank you all for having so much patience with my sporadic mini-haituses… It doesn't happen often but I know it is annoying to be used to constant updates and then get smacked in the side of the head with a curveball of inactivity. I was thrown off track by the holidays (they were wonderful by the way; thank you all for the notes wishing me happy holidays!) and of course, right after the break I have exams thrown on me. So I've been studying like mad and on track for my lovely As (Yes, to those of you who have asked, I am actually still in school (somebody a while ago thought I was thirty-something; that made me smile)), but I tried my hardest to get this chapter to you guys before I was really swept under. Expect at least a week, probably two. Again, I'm sorry for the sporadic updates but I do have a life and I'm also really not sure where the story is going, so it needs more planning then usual.

Thank you all for the continued support and OVER A HUNDRED REVIEWS!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor anything associated with it, including whatever hax Danzou's come up with in the latest chapters.

Uchiha Undercover
Chapter Ten

Heart-to-Heart
-

It had been a most productive week. After their emotional encounter and subsequent decision to escape the moldy cell they'd been locked into, Naruto had quietly bashed open the rusted door with a well-placed thrust and the two nin had made their way to the very lowest level of the old building. The chuunin was exactly where the officer had claimed he'd be, and was quite happy to cause a little chaos. He had made their escape much easier than they had predicted and so they'd gotten an early start towards Konoha after taking the time to change their disguises once again. Now traders on the road with some seals they were keen on selling, they had lagged along the dirt path that the civilians liked to call a road and waited until all passerby were gone and they were sure nobody was watching them. Taking to the trees, they formulated at least twenty different misleading signs and different traps their bunshin could make to fool the Akatsuki and any bounty hunters who might've picked up their trail. Just because they weren't on the hunt right now didn't mean they had lost their prey. For all Itachi knew, Deidara had placed a clay tracker on him or had an inside source that enabled him to know where the two were at all times. The more secretive they were, the better.

The two captains had spent four days confusing themselves and everyone else in that manner with another three days actually dedicated to making their way toward their home village. Now, they were seated in a clearing just outside the outer perimeter of the Nara forest, attempting not to provoke the deer in any way and planning for their grand entrance.

That's what Naruto was attempting to do, at least. Itachi was quite dissatisfied with the idea of, quote-on-quote, 'creating a blazing ring of fire in the center marketplace and then shunshining into the center with your awesome crows and then saying something really impressive and self-sacrificing that would get all the townspeople to love you-'. Needless to say, the blond was feeling very exuberant and high on life, happy that he could finally repair the broken man that he had grown closer to. Itachi just wanted to go up to the Godaime and report mission complete and let her explain everything so he could greet Sasuke.

"You know, Itachi, you deserve a little more than that, being a nin who's been on assignment - an S-class one, too - for over a decade and all. Don't you want a little something more for your welcome home? You need to make the right impression if you want to be able to work with our nin again without them being too scared or even mistrusting you." Naruto leaned forward and put his elbow on his knee, hand cupping his chin as he glanced through the fire to Itachi.

The raven slid off his log and crossed his legs, staring deeper into the flames as if they would provide him an easier way of revealing his wants and needs. Even a flicker of moral support would be nice, but no, all it gave him was heat. "Honestly, Naruto? I'm sick and tired of fighting. I want peace. I hate conflict, and all I wish for is to have you and Sasuke and a happy, prosperous village. You, I have. Sasuke, I will get – he will understand, I hope, our predicament. But as for the last…Unfortunately, the village's prosperity depends on the ninja trade; Konoha exists solely because of and thrives on warfare. Yes, our civilian faction does support us, but we are similar to a middle-class husband-and-wife couple; the husband – us – supports the family with the main source of income, but the wife needs to work for part of the profit as well so they can provide in even better capacity for her family, Konoha. We need the ninjas to provide for the village; in a sense, the ninja are the village. We are the core, the heart. But I have no desire to be part of that heart any longer." He paused, collecting his thoughts.

"When we enter the village, I will retain my status as ANBU captain, exactly as I have for all these years. I believe that the Hokage will award me with however long a vacation from missions as I need, and I will take it. But as soon as I have settled, made amends with my brother and the rest of the village is acclimated to my presence, I would…like to teach." He finished on a hopeful note, glancing back up to his companion.

It took Naruto a good ten seconds before it sunk in. "Teach?! You want to be an Iruka to those Academy brats?!"

The Uchiha snorted before nodding. "Yes. While I do not wish to emulate Iruka, I have found that I enjoy the presence of children and I seem not to have the problem controlling them that other teachers struggle with. I know it will take time before the parents can trust me, but I would very much like to help the youngest part of our village. Children are easily shaped, and hopefully I can bring them to understand both the best and the worst parts of ninja life, while at the same time weeding out the weaker children that would not survive their first C-class. I wish to prevent needless loss of life, and unfortunately the current genin exam at the Academy – the secondary version with the Jounin sensei – is not always good enough at doing that. Additionally…" He paused again and glanced down at the soft earth beneath his feet as if he was troubled by something.

"Itachi? Are you alright? You don't have to talk about it if it hurts you. I'll support you in whatever you choose to do, you know that."

Perking up slightly at his teammate's moral support, he sighed. "My deeper reason is very much related to my wish of peace, but…I do not want to see any child grow up as Sasuke did. I want to be there for them. I want to support them. I want to feel like a big brother again. Like they are proud of having me there for them. Children are humans at their best; no prejudices; no prejudgement; no societal boundaries. I need to see if I am really fit for being praised. Worth anything at all to the very people who matter most."

Naruto had an understanding look on his face, but his eyes were shining with worry. "Itachi…"

The raven held up a hand, cutting the jinchuuriki off and shaking his head resignedly. "Do not worry, Naruto. I am not overtly depressed. These are simply issues that have been lurking in my heart all this time, worries and heartache that were spawned the day I received the order from Sandaime-sama. I am not a vain person – I hope – but I do realize that I have gone to lengths no other would even consider going to and that these actions, though they have torn a family apart and destroyed two of its members from the inside, are morally praiseworthy. I know very well that my name will be part of legend – as it already is, but from a good perspective – in the future. I simply feel very conflicted, and as I said before, for me it is not the adults who matter but the children. I need to know that this torturous mission has not changed me irrevocably. Can you understand that much, for my sake?"

Naruto's eyes widened and he bent his head down, running a hand through his spiky locks. "That was a lot to take it, Itachi, but yes, I think I see your underlying point. Want. Need. Whatever it is, you know? I don't think it can really be defined, but as I said before, I'll support you in all of this. But you know what?"

Itachi nodded in thanks and lifted an eyebrow when the blonde made to continue.

"I really think you are channeling Iruka with your want to support and protect those kids, 'Tachi."

The aforementioned man shook his head with a smile and made to go to sleep.

Naruto grinned softly. Smile Count: Four.

---

--