A/N: I know this is super late and I have left you guys hanging… I have had to rewrite this chapter like three times now to keep the flow of it consistent. It didn't read right but I think i've gotten a handle on it. I know I said that I wasn't planning on using Shisui for the plot of this story but I found him a slight purpose.

From Weasel-san with Affection

Princess of Ikana

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and its respective owners.

Chapter 11: Stalemate

Sasuke was debating if fate was laughing at him. He had made very many mistakes in his short lifetime and it all stemmed from a long hateful rivalry between brothers long ago… tch ironic it was, no matter what life he lived he never got on with whoever was his brother it seemed.

He may have been a reincarnation but he was still himself… Uchiha Sasuke had decided to make amends and shared crucial knowledge with Naruto in the form of a dream. Turns out he can't die until certain circumstances were to happen. He needed to fulfill his destiny first… and that was to decide… continue the line of hatred or make amends with his "brother".

Everything was in Naruto's hands now… his fate as well.

Would he die or wake up and be given a second chance at living?

Sasuke couldn't figure out what was more likely so he settled himself under the Sakura tree he found earlier and took a metaphorical nap and waited to see.

Naruto was meditating when Sakura returned to headquarters. She looked on in silent awe at his ability to actually sit still and quiet for once.

"How long…" she began to whisper.

"Not long since he woke up this morning, said he needed time to think alone for a while."

Kakashi drawled to her as his nose was stuck in another volume of Icha Icha.

Sakura was growing concerned….

Back in the village, things were getting more out of hand that civilians were now being evacuated to safe areas because they were being used as unnecessary casualties of what was becoming Konoha's biggest civil war….

Still under house arrest…. Fugaku and Mikoto heard very little of what was going on outside their house… they could only speculate when explosions sounded close by or shouts going by as cousins regrouped their battle squadron

What seemed like days word finally arrived in the form of Shisui….

He entered the house stone faced and asked them to join him at their table.

"Why does Akito send you to us in his stead?" Fugaku asked bitterly.

"Are you even supposed to be here?" asked Mikoto quietly.

"I don't come because I was asked to, I may have just betrayed them myself. I don't have long to inform you of what has happened so please listen carefully." He insisted quietly.

They steeled themselves for the worst.

Tobi was growing impatient as no news was heard for several hours… finally Zetsu appeared by his feet.

"Master, No one has found the jinchuriki yet, they have hidden him well unfortunately" he reported in clipped tones.

There was no discussion, as he sunk back into the ground. Tobi's eyes bleed red in fury and he disappeared into the night.

His plans of using his descendants as a distraction was already falling apart.

Naruto was feeling rejuvenated once he understood his past lives and that he was leading a bigger destiny than he first thought. Sasuke was giving him the chance to make a lot of things right and he knew that he left his trust in him because he was one of the only of the few people who could do it.

His life was nothing to compare to the different lifestyles he had already experienced and well the same outcome every time except this time….

"Hmph maybe he finally realized that I was right all along… Stubborn dumbass" Naruto muttered to himself with a lopsided smirk of satisfaction. Time to make everything right.

Sakura was awaiting Naruto's movement before she stepped into view blocking his way.

"What the hell is going on? You're not acting normal" she stated bluntly.

"Teme sends his love, but let me in on what's actually going on. Madara is back and is using the Uchiha for his own personal use and they are acting blindly… enough bloodshed has occurred and we need to stop them before its too late" explained Naruto unsure of even what he said.

"Naruto… please sit down" she responded, he did as she requested and she flashed a small flashlight in his eyes.

"Sakura-chan what the heck?!" he sputtered as he looked away abruptly.

"Checking your mental state, Sasuke couldn't have told you anything, he's still in a coma"

"Yes but Sakura-chan ….*sigh* look" continued Naruto holding his right hand up and there was a clear circle in the middle of it, almost like a small sun on the inside of his palm.

Sakura's eyes widened before snatching his hand into hers and looking panicked.

Before she could utter anything medical theories as to what it was, Naruto grasped her hand into his and there was a flash of light.

Counting backwards they had lived 5 different times since being originally brothers of the infamous sage of six paths, their last reincarnation being that of Senju Hashimoto and Uchiha Madara.

Though it was only a few seconds in real time, Sakura just witnessed a bunch of history and the reason they were fighting a war now and end of the time of jinchiriki's and a bigger problem than she first anticipated.

She collapsed to the ground slowly when realization hit her...she looked at Naruto.

"Madara wants to take over the shinobi world and will do anything to succeed… and Sasuke's his reincarnation and would have followed the same path of darkness but decided to finally forgive you for your centuries long sibling fight over who was supposed to be clan leader?!" she yelled in disbelief.

Naruto scratched his head in embarrassment.

Itachi flinched… he just felt a surge of Sakura's chakra in distress and had to stop himself from running to her aid. She should be fine as she went back to the hideaway with the rest of team 7, on a mission to protect Naruto from harm…

He closed his eyes and focused more clearly. That wasn't just distress; she was calling out to him to come to her….what in the world…. He leapt towards her direction with no second thoughts.

"Itachi… Sasuke didn't betray you like you think he did" stated Sakura when Itachi appeared beside her.

His eyes narrowed in protest but before he could Sakura gently pulled his hand to Naruto's without any explanation.

When he came to, he sat next to her and took a steadying breath… it made sense as to what he already knew about Akatsuki and his weird relationship with his otouto.

"Its alot to process I understand, but given how the world is now and the timing of this attack , Madara is definitely using the clan for his own gain and unfortunately they are willing to be his lackey because they hold a strong grudge against the village for how its treated them over the years."

This changed things… the things that he had come across from the past now made a bit more sense. Madara himself was always driven to be something greater and that was with his own sense of loss and background forces of being a reincarnation. Sasuke wasn't as driven from a young age with him protecting him mostly from the darker aspects of the clan but it seemed like by keeping himself distance he had created what he feared Sasuke would become.

"If Sasuke was the one to give you this information, is he still….?" Itachi wondered.

"He's still in a coma for now, but if Naruto makes amends…. He should wake up…. Or if we should fail… than he will die" Sakura told him remorsefully.

"We won't fail" Itachi stated bluntly getting up to leave.

Sakura placed her hand on his arm lightly.

"If there's anyone who can regain the confidence of the formidable Uchiha clan , it is you Itachi" she said sincerely.

Itachi stared into the blazing eyes of his beloved and gave her a small smile in return. Yes he truly did want to marry this woman; she was not an Uchiha by blood but the spirit of one. They were a dying clan and somewhere along the path they have lost their way.

"Thank you Sakura" he replied kissing her knuckles, she was breath of fresh air.

Off to the side of their exchange were Naruto and Kakashi.

"Does she have to flaunt him like that? Kakashi-sensei?" groaned Naruto.

"No, but think about it Naruto they have known each other since they she was 12, we have no idea if we will survive this, let them be. They may never have the chance to actually be together" he advised before walking away to go back to their planning.

Naruto huffed, he was disappointed that he never stood a chance with his childhood love but he was happy to see her happy after all this time.

A/N: and so the plot thickens…. Sasuke made amends with allowing Naruto to know the whole truth of everything, and with team 7 and Itachi being in the inner loop of knowledge, will it be enough to pursue the madness to stop? And I'm so happy that Saku/Ita time to shine is here… they both deserve each other and I already want to write the ending of this lol. I do hope to start a bi-weekly update for the upcoming chapters and not make the wait forever. Please leave a fav, follow and review if you would like :) until next time minna

~* Ikana-hime