The calm winds rustled through the trees, and the stars shined brightly above the village of Konoha. However, two lone figures sat beside each other just outside the gates, in front of a small lake, underneath an early blooming cherry tree. One of the two was taller and had short hair, while the other was rather small and had shoulder length hair. Both figures had similarities; each had dark inky hair, tan skin, and both had a red and white fan on the back of their shirts.

"Shisui-san, have you seen Moriko around lately?" The smaller one spoke so softly the breeze almost whisked it away, but the elder had heard.

"No. I haven't seen her since her parents got home from that mission." Shisui closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Do you think we'll ever see her again?"

Itachi looked up from the grass, looked up at the one he considered an older brother. "Do you?"

"I don't know Itachi, we may never see her again; you know what her father's like." Shisui looked back into identical black eyes, and continued softly, "The worst case scenario is that she might already be gone." Itachi lowered his gaze back to the grass.

"It isn't right for them to treat her like that." Itachi sighed.

"Che, no it's not, but do you think it's fair what our entire clan does to it's self?" Shisui scoffed. "The world is evil sometimes, and sometimes, there's not a damn thing we can do about it." Shisui stood up and brushed off his pants. "Come on Itachi, we should get back; your mother's going to have a bird if she finds you missing."

"No she won't." Itachi spoke so softly, this time Shisui did not hear.

"No she won't." Itachi grumbled in his sleep, rolled over and grumbled some more. "Shisui … wait …"

Kisame listened with interest, it had been awhile since Itachi had actually slept, and now he knew why the man had been so insistent on taking first watch. Who's this Shisui guy? Itachi's lover? Oh that'd be interesting, I always thought something wasn't right with this kid. Hahaa. Kisame's beedy eyes watch as Itachi's eyebrows scrunched up, and a look of terror etched itself into his face.

"No, no! NO!" Itachi bolted up right, blurry eyesight scanning the immediate area. Once again, finding himself to be the source of amusement for his shark like partner.

Kisame fidgeted, "Itachi-san?" A deep inhale was heard. "Who was 'Shisui'?" Kisame made sure to avoid eye contact. This could get him killed. A long pause settled between the two missing nin's, and Kisame thought he wasn't going to get an answer, but then Itachi spoke.

"Shisui was the one who gave me my Mangekyou." Itachi's eyes were downcast; the ground became suddenly very interesting.

"Oh. Well, okay." Kisame felt awkward, he'd never seen Itachi show many emotions and having them surface almost all within an hour was weird. "Well then, what were you saying no to?" My curiosity is certainly going to get me killed.

"My friend Moriko, she saw what I did that night. I hadn't wanted her to see any of it, but she had wanted to tell me about something I guess, or maybe she just knew what was going to happen and wanted to stop it. I'm not sure; she's the only living person I do not understand."

Not dying tonight! Haha I'm still winning, I have 5 points and Itachi-san has 2. "So the ones you don't understand, you kill?" Kisame's hearty laugh filled the small campsite, and Itachi glared. "Oh come on, it was funny." Another angry glare. "Or maybe not." Kisame shifted his gaze up to the sky. "You could still get another couple hours of sleep, unless you want me to get the couple hours." Kisame smiled, showing his fang like teeth. "Ne, Itachi-san?"

"You sleep." Itachi pulled his cloak back on, having used it as a blanket, and sat up against a tree. Kisame was going to tell Itachi to sleep, but one look at that still sweaty face told him Itachi wasn't getting any sleep for the next couple of days.

"'Kay fine, but next time we get into a town, I'll buy you a stuffed animal to sleep with." Another angry glare. Kisame sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "You don't find anything funny do you?" Glare. "Nope, okay then." Kisame practically threw himself onto the ground, a soft sigh escaping his lips. "Nighty, night, 'Tachi!" Kisame could feel the heated glare burning a hole through his head, but chuckled softly anyways and allowed sleep to claim him.

Ω

Moriko sat on her bed, fully armed. After beating the living crap out of Kakashi, she wasn't sure what to spend time on now. Looking around her room, she saw plain walls. Maybe I could paint them? She mused for a while longer, trying to decide on a color, when there was a knock on her window. "Ughh, go away!" Dramatically, she threw her back against her bed, laying down and pretended to sleep. The knocking became insistent. "No! I don't want to go to the Hokage Tower, I'm so tired. Let me stay home for once! I'll actually make this look like a home? Please?" She pleaded to the person at her window, knowing full well it was Ibiki, her superior. I really shouldn't speak to him like that, but oh my Lord if I have to go on another 'watch these genin and make sure they don't kill that old lady's yard' mission, someone was going to be in an extreme amount of pain.

"Open up Moriko. You need to report to Tsunade about the situation with Kakashi." Ibiki's voice was deep and commanding. Very authoritive, and no one would go against his orders, simply from the way he spoke. "Now." He added when the young women didn't move.

"Aww, Ibiki-sama, I wanted to stay home and bake cookies with youuu. (1)" Moriko quickly burst into a fit of giggles, watching as the angry man outside her window twitched an eyebrow. "Okay, Ibiki, I'll be right there." With a quick glance around her room, she turned to him again. "Do I need my mask?"

Ibiki's eyebrow twitched again. There's no way she could have misplaced it, there was nothing in the bedroom that could even pass as a hiding spot. "No, let's just go. Hokage-sama is waiting."

"'Kay!" With a poof of smoke, there no longer stood a person inside the apartment, and Ibiki growled; he really hoped she actually went to the Hokage Tower. Growling again, Ibiki set off towards the large red mansion.

Ω

"Moriko, you realize you attacked a fellow ninja?" Tsunade's voice was calm and quiet, although clearly she was fuming. Her left eyebrow kept twitching, and her pinkie finger was having a spasm on the dark oak desk. Moriko lowered her eyes to the floor. "May I ask 'why'?"

"Well, he's a pervert." Moriko's cheeky behaviour was not going to last long; Ibiki quickly stepped through the door.

"I apologize, Lady Hokage." Ibiki bowed low, then realized Moriko wasn't bowing with him, brought up a hand and pulled her down by the hair. "I assure you, this will never happen again. I will take responsibility."

"No, Ibiki. I want to know why my best ninja was attacked, and why a few of her fellow officers are suffering from blood loss." Tsunade was directing her hazel gaze to the woman standing in front of her, with her arms crossed over her chest and a scowl deeply set into her face. Such disrespect from Moriko was new, and even though rude, it was slightly amusing. She was acting like a child, but on her it was cute. Tsunade also made sure to call Kakashi her best ninja, even though from the situation at hand, it was obvious that Moriko was stronger. Maybe now she will get an answer.

"Kakashi-san saw me in the bathhouse; he was peeking from behind the fence. The 'guards' you so kindly appointed me, passed out after I got out of the water. You'd think being part of the elite, that wouldn't happen, but they are still new, I guess they can be excused. But, Kakashi-san was just being gross. So, I punched his face in. Besides, he totally deserved it." Moriko scoffed as she made sure to look directly into Tsunade's eyes.

Tsunade was glad her folded hands kept her mouth hidden; she couldn't help the small smile that graced her features. "You dislike having guards?"

Moriko deadpanned. "YES! I told you I don't need any. It's not like Itachi came here to kill me. I'd already be dead, if that was the case." Moriko's anger seemed to fade, and she looked upset. "Why did you assume I would need guards, you personally told me one day that I could easily become Hokage since I'm so strong." Moriko's emerald eyes darkened, the only tell tale sign she was upset.

"Because, I figured something like this would happen." Tsunade sighed; Moriko was being such a pain. "Though I thought it would be worse if there weren't other witnesses, you know what the council is like. If it weren't for the known fact Kakashi is a pervert, you could be charged. You understand that, right?

"Yes." Moriko's eyes lowered, and studied the pattern on the carpeted floor. "I do understand, but I'm not sure why the council would get involved. This is why I wouldn't ever become Hokage. You're supposed to be in charge, but you have no real power since the council can overrule you. It's stupid."

"MORIKO!" Ibiki's face turned red with anger and embaressment. "I apologize, Lady Hokage." With a slap on the back of the head, Ibiki knocked Moriko into a sitting position on the floor. "Apologize!" He hissed at her.

There's no way out of this one, God me and my big mouth. Way to go smarty pants! Moriko quickly got on her hands and knee's bowing to her Hokage. She made sure to touch her forehead to the ground. "I apologize for speaking out of turn, and I apologize for the situation at hand. I will send my regards to Kakashi-san as well."

"Very well, you can leave." Tsunade's eyes carefully examined the ninja on the floor in front of her. Her personality was changing dramatically, yet slowly at the same time. What is going on in that mind of yours?

Ω

(1) This is from a movie, Space Jam, it's so funny. You should watch it.

Woohooo! Another chappy done! Sorry it took so long, I hate holidays and then there was exams. It's slightly perturbing how long it took to get this up. Sorry!

Loves,

Moriko

EDIT: Aahhh. Few minor adjustments again… Again… . I hope you enjoy.

-Moriko