"Why am I here?" Itachi flashed his Sharingan at me and I backed up, hitting the wall in the process.
"I'm not going to hurt you Anako. That's the last thing I want to do."
"Why'd you flash your Sharingan at me then? What do you want with me?"
"I want to tell you the real reason I killed my clan." I stood up and kept my back on the wall.
"What's the meaning of this? Why would you want me to know something like that?"
"Because, I truly believe you are the one who can bring Sas-"
"Please don't say his name." I said.
"I see someone is still heartbroken." I put my head down and just looked at the ground.
"Can you just let me go? I promise not tell anyone I saw you."
"Not until you know the truth." I looked up at him when he said that.
"But why? Why do you want me to know? I had nothing to do with that. I'm not a part of the Uchiha clan."
"I have a reason." Itachi said, advancing on me. I pressed my back harder against the wall. "The last thing I am going to do is hurt you." Itachi grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the fire. He set me down and then sat across from me.
"Where is Kisame?" I asked.
"I sent him away for a while." Itachi said. I nodded.
"And the group I was with?"
"They're searching for you. But after we're done here, I'll place you somewhere they are able to find you."
It got silent after that. Itachi's mind was racing as was mine. I looked everywhere but at him. This is just crazy. Itachi is a known killer. He slaughtered his whole clan.
"I can't process this." I said, putting my head in my hands. "I just can't figure out why it's so important for me to know."
"You know a lot already. Being the Third's daughter, you could be in line for the title of Hokage. Look at Tsunade. Her grandfather is the first Hokage. What makes you think you can't be in line for it?"
"Impossible. I don't want the title of Hokage. As much as I love my village and as much as I want to protect it, I'm not meant for that position. Naruto is."
"So he is brought into our conversation now. He is truly a character." Itachi said, leaning back. It got silent again. This was getting frustrating more and more. I stood up and started to paced.
"Can you please just tell me why I am here?" I got no response from him. I felt like I was talking to a wall.
"The reason I killed my clan so many years ago was because my clan was planning a coup d'état on Konoha. They entrusted me, who the time was an ANBU, to be their spy. However, I knew that a civil war would result into another Shinobi World War and instead I provided Konoha with information on the Uchiha's plans. Though the Third Hokage, your father, did not agree with the treatment being dealt to the Uchiha, attempted to achieve a peacefully resolution with the clan, Danzo Shimura — who was not one to wait around for peaceful negotiations — convinced me that slaughtering my entire clan was the only way to avert, promising that me that Sasuke would be spared. The Uchiha clan, however, was not completely ignorant of my double-agent status and began to suspect me due to my strange behavior since joining the ANBU, and asked my close friend Shisui Uchiha to keep an eye on me. However, Shisui was also against the coup d'état like me, and attempted to stop his kin with his Manekyou Sharingan's strongest technique, but Danzo stole his right eye, bent on protecting the village in his own way. Fearing that Danzo would get his remaining eye, Shisui entrusted it to me. Soon after, covering up the nature of Shisui's death as a suicide, I was accused of murder and lost the trust of several members. Regardless, I allowed them to believe that as I became more distant from my kin. Even my father, Fugaku, the clan's leader, defended me of being accused, seemingly washed his hands of me, unable to understand me anymore. Prior to the massacre, I met with a masked man named, Tobi, who had infiltrated the village. I believed Tobi to be Madara Uchiha, who was ostracized by the clan for causing unrest during the first days of Konoha's formation, I allowed him to aid in the slaughter in return to leave the rest of Konoha and Sasuke be. Before killing my parents, I learned they loved and respected me despite my choice to side with the village over my clan and that their final wish was for me to take care of Sasuke. When Sasuke returned home from training I used an advanced genjustu on him called, Tsukuyomi, on him and made him believe I killed our clan in cold blood. I claimed I spared his life as he was not worth killing, I convinced Sasuke to live a life of vengeance; so that way Sasuke can kill me as payment for my crimes. Sasuke activated his Sharingan for the first time and chased after me, managing to knock off my forehead protector. I wept as I picked it up, before Sasuke fell unconscious and I took my leave. Before leaving Konoha, I asked Hiruzen to protect Sasuke from Danzo and the other two elders Koharu and Homura, and to never disclose the truth of the events surrounding the massacre. I also made it a point to threaten Danzo as well with the threat of leaking information on Konoha to enemy villages, should he ever lay a hand on Sasuke. Soon after leaving, I joined the Akatsuki to keep Konoha safe from the organization until the day that Sasuke would come looking for me. Aside from me and the Konoha's elders knowing the truth, the official story the latter made up was that I turned rogue due to losing faith in the clan. There. That is the reason I killed my clan."
I felt the tears flowing down my face as Itachi explained to me why he killed his clan. I felt a tug at my heart and sat down on the ground, burying my face in my hands. That was unfair of Konoha to do that to him. I processed all the information he told me.
"That's unfair of Konoha to do that to you! You're a hero and you should be recognized as one! You stopped a lot of bad from happening! Can't they see that?" I shouted at him.
"I do realize this, but I cannot go back."
"Yes you can! You can come back and I'll defend you. I may be marked as a traitor, but if that means you and Sasuke coming back to the village, then I'll do everything in my power to clear your name." I said. I surprised myself by saying Sasuke.
"That isn't going to happen. Sasuke is going to execute his revenge soon. Orochimaru's time is almost up. Once that time comes, Sasuke will kill Orochimaru and then he'll find me and kill me too."
"Why does Sasuke need to kill you?"
"I murdered our clan. I was the one who forced him to go into this hateful state of his. He wants to kill me to make himself feel better. And he won't stop until I die by his hands."
"It doesn't have to be this way." I mumbled.
"Unfortunately it does." Itachi said. He started to cough and I noticed blood in his hands. I jumped to his side in a heartbeat and placed my hand on his chest, my hand glowing green. I gasped and looked at him.
"You've contracted a fatal disease." I said. "How are you still alive?"
"I take various medications and my sure "willpower" to stay alive long, enough to die by Sasuke's hands." He grabbed my hand and moved it away from him. He noticed the bracelet on my wrist and looked at it. "You still love him?" I lowered my eyes and took my hand back. I stood up and walked over to the wall; crossing my arms and glaring intently at the rocks.
"You know, I should hate you. You took him away from me because of what you did. Everything was going fine until you showed up in the village that one day. But that's selfish of me to say such a thing. I don't hate you for what you did. You had no chose, which angers me. Those damn elders don't give a damn about anyone but themselves. And Danzo, don't even get me started." I said. Itachi stood up and made his way over to me.
"You don't need to bear the burden of stopping those three. Their time will come. Karma has its way of going to everyone."
"I know. I just can't help but be angry. Lady Tsunade isn't too fond of them either. I just-" I stopped mid-way. I heard thoughts and felt chakra. A and the others found us.
"They found us." I said.
A loud crash came suddenly and the four of them were in front of us. Before anyone could say or do anything, I turned my eyes black and the four of them sat down on the ground; heads down. Itachi looked at me.
"What is that?" He asked.
"My ability." I said, looking back at the four. "They'll be out until I release them."
"Is this a kekkei genkai?"
"No, it's not. I've had this ability for as long as I can remember. My father doesn't know how I got it, but I have it. I can also read minds."
"You can read minds too?" I nodded.
"But it isn't something I share around. Only three people know, including you."
"Do Sasuke or Naruto know?"
"No, they don't. I'm sure Naruto will know soon. I can read his minds, but I can't go in it. If that makes any sense. The nine tails stops me from being able to go into it. And with you, I am unable to control you. I think it has something to do with you having the Sharingan. I never tried to control him though. At the beginning, I was only able to read minds, make people say whatever I wanted, and control them. Over the years, I learned to control it better. For example, I am able to go into a mind and see through the person's eyes. I've also learned how to devil into memories." I said.
"Hmm, that's quite interesting." Itachi said. "What're you going to do with those four? I'm still not finished talking with you."
"I'll send them away. Since they are being controlled, I'll be able to see through their eyes." The four of them stood up and I sent them away. Once I put them in a place far away from where Itachi and I were, I released the control and my eyes turned back to their blue.
"Okay. They're far away from here." I said, turning back to Itachi. "What else is there to talk about?"
"I believe that you'll be able to help Sasuke. I don't want him to find out what happened to the clan though. I don't want him knowing the truth."
"Why not? If he knows the truth, then he'll have no reason to execute his revenge. And like I said before, you two can come back to the village."
"And like I said, that isn't going to happen." I sighed in defeat. These Uchiha men are stubborn. I rubbed my forehead.
"What do you want me to do then?"
"Watch over him. Now that I know about your ability, you can use it to check on him and make sure he isn't going too deep into the darkness. And when the time comes, which I know it will, you two can settle down and rebuild the Uchiha clan." I felt my face start to heat up when he said that. "That's all I request of you. And one more thing, protect Naruto. That boy cares deeply for you. And the last thing you want is for him to die, so do whatever you can to protect him." I nodded at him as he spoke. This would probably be the last time I'd ever see him. I looked at him and smiled.
"I'll keep everything that you have said today right here." I said, pointing to my mind. "I will not tell a soul."
"Thank you. Two more things, Anako." Itachi said. "Firstly, I want you to know that I dearly loved my parents. And it killed me to know that I had to do to them what I did. Secondly, Sasuke doesn't have to forgive me, but no matter what happens to him from this point onwards, I want you to know that I will always love him."
And with that Itachi disappeared. I wiped away the tears that started to form again. Why did such a kind person like Itachi have to be put through something so terrible? He's truly a compassionate person who cares deeply for his village and family. I cleaned my face up as I made my way out of the cave. Now to make a cover story to tell A and the others.
"Anako, are you okay?!" A shouted at me, running over to me. "We found you, but then suddenly everything went blank and we ended up here."
"I manage to evade that Akatsuki member. He wasn't very easy to deal with. I suffered a few minor injuries, but I was able to heal them. He tried to force me to give away vital information about Konoha, but instead I attacked and got away." I said, lying through my teeth.
"I'm glad you're okay." A said. "I was really worried that something terrible happened to you."
"Did you complete your mission?"
"Yes we did, then after we immediately started to look for you." The saying Master K always said ran through my mind:
"Those who break the rules of the ninja world are trash, those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash."
I need to remember that not everyone thinks like that. I looked at the others. A and Darui were talking while Haru and Jurou talked.
"Let's head back to the village now." A said, putting a hand on my shoulder and squeezing. "I'm serious about you being okay. I was really worried."
"Thank you for caring." I said, smiling at him as we made our way to back Kumo.
"No!" B yelled, holding onto my arm. "You can't leave yet!"
"I have to B! C is all better now and will now resume his position as the head medical ninja." I said.
"But Little A, I've come to really enjoy you being around!" B cried to me.
"B, you need to let Anako go back to her village. The Hokage might think we tried to harm her." A said, standing up from his desk and coming over to us. Darui and C stood of to the side and Mabui sat on the couch.
"Can we at least take a photo so I can remember you?" B asked.
"Yes! Photos are amazing!" I said.
"Alright! Mabui, take the photo of us!" B yelled, handing her a camera. "Come here A, you get in this too!" I stood in the middle of A and B while Mabui put the camera out in front of us.
"Okay, one, two, three." I smiled as a flash came and the photo came out of the camera. "Wait, let's take another one so A and B can have one as well." I smiled again as she snapped the photo and it came out. She handed it to me and I smiled at the photo. I looked to A and hugged him.
"Thank you Lord A! I really appreciate everything that you have done for me here in the village." I said.
"Thank you, Anako. Thank you for nursing our medical ninja back to health and helping us here in the village. You've been very helpful." A said, hugging me back. I looked back at B and he stood up all macho like.
"Well Little A, I enjoyed you being here in the village and I especially loved your cooking." B said. I smiled and went to hug him. He squeezed me and picked me up. "I'll miss you Little A."
"I'll miss you too B. You've helped me a lot. And I appreciate all the help that you have given me." I said, tears forming in my eyes. "Gosh, I told myself I wasn't going to cry."
"It's okay Little A. I don't mind people crying." B said.
"I just am going to miss you so much. I've enjoyed being your friend."
"I have enjoyed being your friend as well. I'm sure we'll meet each other in the future sometime." B said, setting me down and patting my forehead. "Just keep me updated?"
"Of course. I'll write to you all the time." I said.
"No Little A. I know you can communicate through other ways." B whispered to me. He knows about my ability.
"How'd you figure it out?" I whispered back to him.
"My friend in me told me."
"The eight tails?" B nodded and I smiled at him. "I'll definitely keep in touch with you and your friend; only if he allows me to?"
"I'm sure him and I can work out a deal, so you'll be able to." I smiled and hugged him again. "Don't worry; your secret is safe with me."
"Thank you. It's time for me to go now." I said, looking back at everyone. I heard the door open and Haru and Jurou walked in, bags on both their shoulders.
"Ahh, just in time." A said. "These two are going to accompany you on your journey back to Konoha."
"A, you didn't have too." I said.
"I wanted to make sure my favorite girl gets home safe and sound." A said, smiling at me.
"Thank you." I said, smiling. I looked to Haru and Jurou and nodded at them. "Alright boys, let's head out."
"Be safe on your journey home, Little A." B said.
I nodded at him and we left the Raikage building and went to the chain link fenced. The guards at the front nodded as we made our way to the Konoha. I turned around to smile the village and then looked back at the picture of the two brothers and me. My time in Kumo was a lot more fun than I thought I was. I am going to miss A and B, but I am excited to go home to my friends and family.
Here is chapter 11! Please review! I'd appreciate it if you guys would. It'd make my day and let me know that you all still like this story!
Okay, so I'm sorry if the characters seem out of character. Especially Itachi. But it had to be done. I really don't think A and B were out of character though. So Anako is going back to Konoha.
Thank you all my followers and all the favorites! Much love to you all! :)