UPDATE! WOOT WOOT!

Thank you all so much - 79 reviews? And all those favs and follows? I'm in 10 communities?

WOWEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I am deeply honoured :)

Sorry if this may have taken a little longer than expected. On the plus - I've already written 3000 words for the next chapter. :D

On another note, I turned 19 on Friday :D :D :D

I've done an edit of all previous chapter, but the only main changes are that Iruka was only there for experience to keep in with canon. He won't be joining officially as a sensei til spring. And I finally named Olivia's friend - the one who told her spoilers - who is now known as Sarah.

Edit - 1/5/14.

Removed 'thoughts of the future' sections through advisement from Laira Evans (thank you!). Also - HOLY MOLY! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! 92 REVIEWS? YOU LOT ARE WONDERFUL! Thank you to all those who review (especially Laira Evans), to all the favs, follows and community additions - it is a pleasure to write for you.

I hope I won't let you down.

Nine to Three

MASSIVE SPOILERS!

10th October 6pm

She had worn kimonos before, her grandparents had been very traditional and as a result, her visits to Japan had been full of trips to various shrines and festivals, as well as classes on her heritage. She'd even spent time working as a shrine maiden. Or an assistant at least.

She had loved it – all of it, all the trips, the festivals, the lessons – the connecting with her other culture, just as she'd loved travelling around England.

So, having to wear a kimono – a pretty violet one – to the Kyūbi festival was not a problem. She didn't even mind having to hold Kizashi's hand in the crowds.

But… this was the first festival she had ever attended without her family, without her parents. The first attended without her mother having done her hair into an elaborate bun that she had learnt from her mother when she was young.

(One that she'd never learnt. Because she'd thought she had time.)

The first attended without her father being there to challenge her to every game they passed, a tradition that always ended in them filling the car with umpteen goldfish, stuffed animals, fans, masks and other memorabilia, as well as the consumption of a ridiculous amount of edible consolation prizes.

She had arrived in the Narutoverse on the 24th of September, the same day she had left behind in her world. It was now the 10th of October. Her father's birthday no less. Therefore, she would have to be forgiven if she was in a relatively temperamental disposition.

.

.

.

"Let's go get a candyfloss!"

"Wow – look at those masks. They're amazing! A bit scary though, right Kumiko-chan?"

"Otōsama, I'm hungry."

"Oh – 'Catch a goldfish' – let's have a go."

"Cool – sparklers! Okāsama – I want one!"

"I'm thirsty."

It was so loud and vivid. It was as if the entire village was out in the streets. Civilians and shinobi. Rich and poor. Those celebrating the downfall of the Kyūbi no Kitsune, and those in sombre remembrance of the victims of the attack.

She kept hearing her father's voice, kept catching fleeting glimpses of women who looked comparable to her mother, or wore a scarf like hers, or had their hair up in a similar style, or she bumped into someone built just like Shunsuke.

It had been two weeks and two days. This was not enough time to get over the apparent loss of everyone and everything she'd ever known. No – not even close. If anything, Olivia was only just approaching the absolute pain of what she had lost, given how busy she had kept herself.

Kizashi pulled her towards another stall, one peddling remembrance flowers for people to place on the graves of those specifically who had perished in the attack of the Kyūbi. As it happened, both pairs of Kumiko's grandparents, as well as two aunts, five uncles and three cousins had died in the attack. The fox had actually eaten one of her grandmothers - what an honour. Many of them had lived outside the village in the nearby farms. The attack and the resulting losses had actually been the reason the last surviving three Koharuno had reconnected with their last remain relatives – the Haruno family.

As she was tugged yet again, this time through the cemetery gateway, she was struck by a memory, just a flash of one really – merely her own father pulling her into a shrine to pay their respects whilst at a festival themselves. The surrounding sounds, the smells, the sights, the feeling of the hand around her wrist. It was identical. Identical, in all but the name they called her.

"Kumiko-chan, Kumiko-chan. C'mon, Kumiko-chan."

Her name was not, and never would be, Kumiko. She would never accept it.

She yanked her arm from Kizashi's grasp and ran, blindly, back towards the high street. It did not matter, after all, that she ran, her reaction would be easily accepted, though she may yet receive a reputation as being a 'flight-risk'. As the stalls and crowds passed in a vibrant blur, and her shoulders began lightly aching from repetitively bumping into people, she wondered how long it would be until she was labelled emotionally unstable.

'Now, where am I? Oh – I recognise that!'

10th October, 7:30pm

'Birthdays suck! Just another reason for people to glare at me even more than usual. Or pretend I'm not there. That I don't exist. Even Oyaji's too busy for me.'

Naruto mentally said, miserably.

'At least I'm welcome at Ichiraku's." He thought, slightly more cheerfully, as a perfect bowl of miso ramen was placed in front of him, with the beautiful accompanying words, "And don't worry, Naruto, it's on the house!"

As the blond tucked in, a familiar figure sat beside him. Given he was the only customer at that moment, it told him immediately this person was either not a local to Konoha, or was one of the precious few villagers who could actually stand to sit next to him when there were other seats to choose from. Whilst slurping the final drops from the bowl, he glanced to the side.

'Kumiko-chan! She's here! Ah – this is awesome, but wha- why is she…'

"Kumiko-chan, what's wrong?"

The windswept girl tilted her head, not understanding the question. She smiled without any particular happiness, and started rummaging around in her little bag. "Nothing, Naruto. Nothing's wrong... Why?" She sighed, when he continued looking perturbed.

"Well – you're crying." What was he supposed to do? What do you do when girls cry? What if he did it wrong?

'Aak – having friends is so difficult!'

"Crying? I'm not-". The girl quickly touched her cheek. It was wet with tears. "Oh – oh I'm so sorry. Uh – I must look a mess." When she saw his expression, she grinned, this time the expression actually containing humour. Naruto got just as startled by waterworks as she did, at least when he was younger.

She abruptly remembered why she been looking in her little bag, and flourishing the envelope, she elaborately presented it to Naruto, who looked heartbreakingly confused.

'Is that for… me?'

Was it?
Should he take it?
What if it wasn't?
What if she got angry, angry enough to leave?
He didn't want that.
He didn't want to be alone.
Again.

'No – Kumiko-chan wouldn't do that… but still – is that envelope for me?'

When he made no move to take the envelope, she rolled her eyes ('Eh – that's not a good sign!') and singsong-ed, smiling genuinely and brightly despite the tears still glistening on her cheeks, "~Happy Birthday Naruto!~", before pressing her gift into his hands.

"Ha- happy- Huh? You know it's my- and you're giving me a-"

"Naruto, if you start crying, I'm going to start crying (again) and no one wants to see that. I get all blotchy. Now – open your present!" She commanded, gesturing to the envelope loosely held, almost reverently, in Naruto's little hands.

He opened it slowly, treasuring each moment, not tearing the envelope like most his age would – no, this was a gift. Not just one from Oyaji either, but from someone his age or near enough. The first of his… what was the word his Oyaji once used… peer, that was the word… the first of his peers to ever give him a gift.

It was a homemade card, and Naruto looked at it with all the awe of a person gazing at the Sistine chapel. A sheet of A4 card neatly folded in half, the symbols for Happy Birthday written painstakingly precisely in bright blue; it was hardly a work of art, but when Naruto eventually drew his attention away from the cover to read the inner leaf, Olivia saw he was nearly in tears.

To Naruto,

Happy Birthday! I know we haven't been friends long, but you really are already my closest friend.

- (wasn't that touching?)-

So it is only right that I get you something for your birthday. Thing is – I'm skint.

-(and Sakura's parents wouldn't give me a tissue if they caught wind it was for you)-

So – I hope this will do!

Love Kumiko :)

Beneath this was a small, again homemade, booklet, stuck in place with a small sticker so it was easily removable. As Naruto looked through the booklet, he saw each leaf of the little book was the same: an IOU – for ramen.

A peek up at his still tear-stained friend got him his answer to the unsaid question.

"They're IOUs for Ichiraku ramen. If you give me one, I'll buy you a bowl of ramen, no matter what. Unless it's, I dunno, a life or death situation. As long as no one will die, I'll drop whatever I'm doing to buy you a bowl. Oh – and as long as I have the money. So – do you like it?"

She looked hopefully into Naruto's eyes. Naruto's answer, as his throat felt oddly tight, was a blinding grin followed by a glomp and a rib-creaking hug. Swiftly proceeded by him giving her one of the coupons.

10th October, 7:50pm

Just as Naruto finished another bowl of ramen, and Olivia herself ate the last few noodles from her own bowl – thank goodness, Kizashi and Mebuki had given her spending money – an ANBU flickered into sight. It was the first of these elite ninja Olivia had seen up close, and frankly, she was a little… Disturbed would be going too far, but just as she'd known Shoumaru-sensei would have killed before, she knew the ANBU now standing a little behind Naruto would not only have 'simply' killed people, but would have done some of the worst acts towards humanity on the Hokage's orders.

She told herself they did so for the good of Konoha, and not for a fat paycheck, but she didn't pretend to understand how anyone could do what they must do. A soldier was one thing, an assassin was another. The closest description would be to say she was… anxious in their presence.

Even so, she tried to be polite and not shy away from the operative, despite the fact that his or her (she really couldn't tell) 'aura' – if she could use that to accurately describe that lesser form of chakra-sensing she used – was icy cold and made her hackles stand on end.

"The Hokage-sama wishes to see you, Uzumaki-san."

'Oyaji! Awesome – I haven't seen him in ages! And I can introduce him to Kumiko-chan!'

"Ne, ne – Kumiko-chan, c'mon, I gotta introduce you to my Jiji! Dattebayo!"

Spending his birthday with someone who liked him was all he could ever ask for. Spending it with two was a dream come true.

"I… I'm not sure I'm allowed. The… Hokage-sama asked for you specifically." Naruto looked confused as his friend became uneasy at the mere idea of meeting his Jiji. Didn't she want to meet him?

Truth be told, Olivia was horrified with the idea – this was the Professor, the God of Shinobi, the one who trained the Sannin – she did not want to be in the same room as him, Naruto present or not. What if he met her and thought she was suspicious? What if he already thought that? She had made friends with the infamous Jinchūriki after all. Unfortunately, Naruto pulled out his Puppy dog eyes no jutsu and she was powerless to stop the affirmation slipping from her lips.

"Ok… dammit!"

As she stood up, the ANBU turned their head slightly to look at Naruto, who had managed to somehow stick himself to his stool (she wouldn't even begin to try and figure out how) and noticed the ANBU's ponytail.

With newly opened eyes, she took in the ANBU operative's height, the way they stood and most importantly took a closer 'look' at their chakra.

After that, it was obvious. Itachi. The boy she had thought was a psychopath. The boy she had stalked for quite a while. What were the chances?

10th October, 7:55pm

There was something odd about the girl.

He just didn't know what.

She was familiar for starters, but he couldn't remember any scenarios where he would have interacted with a girl who was three years his junior. She was clearly a civilian born, but that did anything but explain why he felt instantly cautious around her.

Was it the intelligence in her eyes?

The quiet confidence civilians usually only gained with years of worldly experience (and shinobi, a few 'good' battles)?

The worrying look of sudden recognition she didn't quite manage to hide? That was worrying twofold, as it meant, one - if she recognised him, then they had interacted at some point, so why couldn't he remember it – he knew he was smart, so what was wrong with him? And two – why did this civilian girl recognise an ANBU operative – a captain no less?

There was something else though. Was she a witness to anything? Why was she so familiar?

The girl, who had frozen shortly after he had placed his full attention on her – a common reaction for civilians and indeed many shinobi, took a startled step back as he tilted his head whilst he deliberated over whatever the association between them could be.

Olivia felt like a lamb at the market, whilst it was being sized up, by the Lord of the land, as a prime candidate for dinner. She also felt relieved that supressing chakra to the extent to which she had managed to in her time stalking the boy, made it difficult to identify the person when they weren't suppressing their chakra, unless the other person – in this case Itachi – knew what to look for. And Itachi had no reason to compare her normal chakra signature with the suppressed one of his eavesdropper and stalker.

Itachi felt frustrated, a feeling he rarely had ever felt in connection to knowledge. No, he was not bragging – he really was that smart. So why couldn't he place this little girl?

Teuchi was watching the scene a little apprehensively – what on earth could the little girl have done to deserve being stared down by an ANBU?

Naruto had no idea what was going on – instead he was mentally berating himself for storing his pranking glue in the back pocket of his trousers without putting the lid on properly.

Thankfully, just as Olivia was beginning to find breathing a little difficult – Naruto freed himself and bounded up to the ANBU, as if they were just a normal ninja.

"Ne, ne – you're Weasel right? I can tell cos of your mask, y'know." He nodded to himself proudly, and Olivia was actually rather impressed that he'd been able to make that conclusion. The mask looked like just some sort of mammal to her. Maybe Naruto had been around ANBU before – when he was very young?

The ANBU – Itachi – nodded slowly, whether from reluctance to confirm his codename, disinclination to make contact at all or simply slowly from his perception of Naruto's intelligence, she did not know.

"She's c'min' too. Believe it!" Naruto said, clasping his ramen and glue flecked, sticky hand around Olivia's arm – ruining the kimono's sleeve, whilst beaming at her in excitement.

10th October, 8:20pm

She wasn't what he had expected.

Simple as that – the girl had far more backbone, a much stronger fire in her eyes and a rather more stubborn set jaw than he, the Sandaime Hokage, had expected of the little orphan civilian.

She was terrified of him, that much was clear. She wouldn't meet his gaze, and never left Naruto's side. That didn't make her seem weak in his eyes - she seemed intelligent. Mature too, and not just because her presence next to Naruto gave a contrast. Despite her clinging to Naruto and her avoidance of his gaze, the girl radiated a sort of mental strength of someone much older and wiser – someone with more knowledge than any civilian girl would be expected to have enough of to give herself a visible confidence. As scared as she was of him, she clearly thought she had something.

But what? What could she have?

He knew from the report Akiko had given him – after all, the girl could one day be one of his ninja, as unlikely as it seemed. It was his business to know everything relevant to her skills – that the girl's chakra seal gave her occasional bouts of chakra-hypersensitivity, a manifestation he was certain the close proximity with Naruto, a boy practically exuding chakra (just his own chakra – forget the beast) would only increase in recurrence. Exactly 6 minutes and 32 seconds after entering his office, Koharuno Kumiko tensed up even more than she already had been, and tried – and failed – discretely glancing at the ANBU hidden around him.

He was truly rather impressed – she actually managed to locate, in a rough sort of manner, two out of the eight operatives currently guarding him. Given one of them was Itachi, and she managed to pinpoint him precisely – well, he was beginning to rather hope the girl graduated.

Could it be this fair-weather… ability sounded too useful… capability that gave her that internal strength?

"Jiji, Jiji!" Naruto's shouts demanded his attention, which he gladly gave, and thoughts of Kumiko were momentarily placed on the backburner.

"Jiji – have a look at what Kumiko-chan gave me for my birthday! Look, look – see? They're IOUs – for ramen!"

"What a splendid idea. And did you thank Kumiko-chan for the gift, Naruto?"

The boy's face slacked and then his eyes opened wide in panic before jumping round to face the girl.

"Ahh – Kumiko-chan! Sorrysorry – thankyouthankyouthankyou! You are the best ever in the history of ever friend ever I could ever-"

After one or two too many 'ever's, the girl butt in, laughing. "I get it. I get it. I'm glad you like it." And with a teasing smile on her face, she patted him on the head, an action Naruto clearly didn't mind as much as he pretended, just as the blond – so starved of any form of affection, and indeed attention in general - did when he himself patted the boy on the head.

As mature as she had sounded, and acted, the girl still would not meet his gaze. Deciding to see just how determined she was not to look him in the eye, he asked her, speaking to her directly so that it would be rude not to make eye contact, "So, Kumiko-chan, how are you doing in the academy? I understand your grades took a dip."

She paused for a moment, tenser than ever, before apparently mentally berating herself – an action causing a flurry of amusing expressions to cross her face – and, finally, lifted her head to meet his gaze head on. With her squared shoulders and a jaw tilted almost arrogantly, despite it being what many would say was a weak jaw, she presented a rather funny image – which he freely smiled in response to.

"I'm doing well. From the initial drop in my placing at the time of… my," She coughed, seemingly unsure of herself, before continuing in a charming attempt at professionalism that reminded the Sandaime of eight year old Kakashi, "…parent's funeral, I have gotten back to my previous standing in nearly every area of study. The exceptions are my shuriken marks, which remain low for both my previous standing and in comparison with my classmates, and my theory marks – especially in the mathematics units - for which I am now top in my class for, an improvement from being in the top five. We are due to start graded sparring matches soon and um… I guess we'll just have to wait and see for that…?" She trailed off, losing confidence and breaking his gaze to pretend to wipe dirt off Naruto's cheek.

He chuckled, remembering why he liked speaking to civilian children so much – their innocence was so difficult to find in shinobi children, especially children of the clans. "Now – no need to be so formal. I wasn't asking for a report, but I will tell you that I'm very pleased with your progress. Now – Naruto. What about you then? What are your grades like? Or should the reports of paint and graffiti I receive nearly daily from the academy be answer enough?" He tried to sound reprimanding, but he couldn't keep the warmth out of his voice. It wasn't a bad thing though – especially given the way Kumiko actually met his gaze again, just for a moment, to share a smile that said she knew exactly what he tried to sound like, and agreed she probably wouldn't succeed any better than he had, should she try.

30th September

She wasn't what he had expected.

The eavesdropper. He'd expected a shinobi. One he would kill nearly instantly. Not a child who, for the briefest of moments, looked just like Rin. That had stayed his hand long enough for him to reveal his presence to her, even if he called her a little spy.

It was then he saw the little girl's eyes were not Rin's kind open brown ones, but were instead sharper, slightly shrewd despite her obvious fear, and a murky green. And her hair was a far lighter shade of brown the nightly shadows had led him to perceive. In fact, he was surprised he had ever thought they'd shared a likeness.

Nevertheless, he had let her live. He would probably end up killing her later – probably for the same reason he let her live.

She may yet have a use.

It would only be time that told him whether it would be by her life or death that she would provide her usefulness.

10th October, 8:30pm

'Dear Kami-sama – please oh please, get me the HELL OUTTA HERE!' Olivia mentally screamed. This was going to give her a heart condition, she knew it – all this stress was going to do some serious damage, both physically and mentally. She was probably going to start growing grey hairs several decades prematurely at this rate.

"Ahh – Naruto, I almost forgot. I have a present for you myself." She swore every time the Hokage spoke, it gave her heart palpitations.

The present was not wrapped up, but instead was in a shiny red gift box, so Naruto avoided taking forever as he had with her gift and instead quickly lifted the lid to reveal the gifts within.

Green shorts and an orange, sleeveless, hooded jacket, a book on stamina training and a little bag of sweets. Naruto took great delight in showing each of them to Olivia, despite her having watched him open the gift just moments before, and was actually half way out of his current clothes when Olivia pointed out she was, in fact, a girl and could he please not get changed in front of her?

Truthfully, she could have easily turned round so he could change, but his reactions were too funny to miss out on.

However, the way he blinked and then peered closer at her when she told him her gender was hardly flattering.

Kumiko, sadly, was not a cute child.

POOF!

Olivia nearly jumped out her skin when yet another ANBU appeared.

'Hmm… spiky grey hair – I do believe you're Kakashi.'

"Hey, hey – I know you! You're Hound – yeah? Right? I'm right, aren't I Jiji?" Yelled Naruto, as he bounced around still half-undressed. Olivia openly stared at Kakashi – her favourite character out of all the characters from every anime she had ever watched – and was glad he seemed only interested in Naruto, in front of whom he crouched once Naruto redressed himself and stood still, as she was fairly certain she was gawping like a fish.

After presenting a little box to the birthday boy, and whispering a quiet "Happy Birthday," Kakashi ruffled the boy's hair before taking once last look at his beloved sensei's only child and then flickered out of sight.

It was a weird evening, even by Olivia's newly reached standards – given she spent every evening reading up on a fictional world, studying techniques using a mystical substance and training herself in the use of her own reserves of said mystical substance. As Naruto excitedly showed the Sandaime his new toad wallet, which he proudly declared to be forever named Gama-chan, Olivia took a glance at the time: 8:40pm. It was getting late – for a ten year old, she meant – and no doubt, Kizashi and Mebuki would soon be getting worried. She may also even be in for a telling-off for running away from the memorial service, especially as she was still technically grounded – she'd been allowed to go to the Festival so she could go to the service specifically.

Oh – and no prizes for guessing why Naruto wasn't at the service – he'd be run out before he got through the door.

On a side note, Olivia was relieved to be able to say, from what she had seen, the village did seem to only neglect Naruto, not actively abuse him, as she had feared. As much as she had enjoyed reading fanfics where an assaulted Naruto gets adopted by the Sandaime or, her favourite scenario, Kakashi, the notion of her friend Naruto getting hurt, as opposed to a fictional character, made her want to punch something.

Plus, it probably wouldn't work like that – politics or some other bull like that would probably prevent either the Hokage or Kakashi from adopting him. Something along the lines of giving them too powerful a pawn or them making it obvious to enemies in Iwa who the child's father was.

At least that's what she hoped. If she ever found out Naruto hadn't been adopted simply because they hadn't wanted to, or for another stupid reason, favourite character or not, Kage or not – there'd be hell to pay.

Back on track, Olivia gave Naruto a quick hug, mumbled her apologies for having to leave –
"Sorry, but I don't want Mebuki-san to worry. Happy Birthday Naruto – I'll see you some time this weekend, if not then on Monday! Bye! Oh – and pleasure to meet you Hokage-sama."
– and gave an incredibly awkward bow-ish thing. (Seriously, she given her respects before at shrines, but she'd never had to bow low to someone important before. It felt weird.).

Then, she darted out the door. Immediately, she found it easier to breathe and by quarter to nine, she was out of the Hokage tower and walking back to the home of the Harunos.

Coincidentally, 8:45pm was also when the Hokage's ANBU guard changed shifts. Olivia didn't even realise she had started following Itachi until she noticed she was walking away from the Haruno household.

She really had become a creepy stalker…

Her ever improving ability to supress her chakra, including whilst moving, as well as the crowds of people still milling around – Olivia was sure she heard there would be a firework display sometime that night – made it entirely acceptable to believe that she was not sensed by Itachi, or indeed the person he was meeting.

Chakra suppression was, after all, her only physical talent. Yup – her brains and chakra control demonstrated through complete suppression. She really needed a mentor…

They met at a corner shop, neither of them turning to face the other. Close enough to speak to each other easily, far enough apart to be able to maintain separatism. Olivia hid behind a restaurant waste bin, a mere metre from Danzo. She was supressing her chakra to the point where it actually hurt, and she was fairly certain her toes were going numb from her position, crouched on the ground on the balls of her feet. Ready to run as fast as she could, should she be discovered.

Danzo.

Danzo…

She had disliked people before. She had hated people before. She had even felt a sort of relief when the News told her some particularly sick twisted murderer had died.

She had never actually wanted someone to end at her own hand before. Never. Before now that is. As she crouched behind that stinky, sticky bin whilst Danzo calmly discussed the ruthless eradication, the heartless annihilation, his goddamn, sick twisted plan to obliterate Kami-knows how many hundreds of people. As if he were only talking about, not even the weather, but something even more redundant – like the stock market, or 'would you describe this as a salmon pink, or a shade of beige?' – all the while in front of Itachi, made her want to scratch his eyes out and choke him to death on his own teeth. Itachi, who still was in his ANBU uniform, so Olivia couldn't see his face, but was in prime position to see Itachi's fingers twitch every-so-often, as if wanting to curl into a fist… or wrap around Danzo's neck.

A twitch for an ANBU captain must be analogous to a full-blown temper tantrum for a normal person.

Traitors or not, it made her blood boil – who knows what it was like for someone who's most precious person, their little brother, was on the metaphorical chopping block?

As she continued to eavesdrop, a memory suddenly sparked and she was so startled by the revelation – she'd forgotten she'd ever known this information – she nearly lost control of the suppression. She tensed up, waiting, waiting, waiting – but nothing happened. Danzo and Itachi continued pretending not to be talking to one another, and paid her no heed.

'Phew – that was too close!'

10th October, 8:50pm

Itachi and Danzo were not stupid. Itachi was a thirteen year old ANBU captain and Danzo ran Konoha's underground. They did however have a rather presumptuous look on things, typical of most ninja in fact, to overestimate possible threats – rather safe than sorry, right? – And consequently were much more likely to make a mountain out of a molehill.

They knew she was there. Olivia had, already, amazing chakra suppressing abilities. If you weren't sensing for her specifically, you would not even register her presence.

Itachi was sensing for her, under the assumption that Madara-sama's spy would be keeping note of their meeting, and frankly, Itachi wanted to know exactly where this ninja was. After all – this was Madara's spy, they must be powerful, perhaps even as powerful as he was, given the spy's apparent confidence in hiding so close to them.

Danzo was testing out his new eye. Shisui's eye. Just with the normal Sharingan of course. He was looking for everything and anything, the paranoid old coot, and no matter how good Olivia's suppression was, at this tiny distance, Danzo could 'see' her chakra bright as day.

He had several of his Root operatives hidden around the place on the other side of the road – you can never be too careful of course – and he assumed, an action taking a millisecond to do, she was one of them. Probably a new recruit, given he usually instructed they stay a little further away than this one did.

Had there been just one – just one – Root operative on Olivia's side of the road, it would have been very different. With the Root operatives where they were, and with Danzo and Itachi facing the way they did, she was out of sight. She also looked, very obviously, like a civilian eavesdropper. Had there been an operative on her side, they would have spotted her immediately, Danzo would have been told there was a suspicious civilian child listening in on his conversation as soon as he was done, and she would have disappeared within 48 hours.

Olivia was very good at chakra supressing, but it was sheer luck that saved her that night. Not that she knew that.

10th October, 8:50pm

You remember more than you think you do, and sometimes it will be the simplest or oddest stimuli that will trigger a memory you didn't even know you had.

When Olivia abruptly remembered Sarah, back a year or so ago, explaining how Itachi had killed his parents, but it had been Tobi who killed the rest of the clan, Olivia had been shocked she could even remember that conversation. She'd listened to her friend with only half an ear, not interested in the slightest. It was almost – almost – funny that it was the stink of tuna coming from the bin that had provoked the memory.

Her friend had been eating a tuna-mayo sandwich at the time of the conversation, and she remembered hating the smell.

She supposed it should make sense – she'd read somewhere that smell and memory had a close link – but she hadn't expected it to be that strong.

10th October, 9:30pm

'Kami-sama! These two talk like old women! I don't even understand what they're talking about anymore!'

Olivia ached all over, the crouched position was killing her feet – which she didn't dare move, still under the presumption they didn't know she was there – and the night's breeze was giving her a chill. She hadn't minded staying originally – they kept giving her new information, and knowledge really was power – but now, now, she just wanted to go home.

Not to sleep, mind – though she really wanted to – but she wouldn't be able to even if she tried. She needed to start planning just what exactly she was going to do. It was obvious Danzo was running the show. Regardless of whether or not Tobi killed the clan or Itachi did, it was Danzo who gave the order.

She needed to convince him to spare the clan and she was fairly certain the Hokage would need to take action too. But she was just a little kid in their eyes, a little girl who knew far, far too much.

Maybe that could be her angle? She could bribe Danzo with information… but that would mean revealing herself – her knowledge. It would mean sacrificing her one, true power in this world of superheroes, and super villains. It hurt, but Olivia just wasn't that selfless.

Danzo had now left, and with him – unbeknownst to Olivia, his Root guard – but Itachi remained, seemingly staring into space, whilst actually suffering an internal debate.

Then, without looking at Olivia's hiding space, he whispered,

"Spy-san." Olivia tensed to the ninth degree. He knew she was there? She concentrated as hard as she could to sense her surroundings. The rest of the crowds had long since moved to watch the fireworks. She and Itachi were the only people for two streets around. He was definitely talking to her. 'Oh gawddammit!'

She was just contemplating whether or not she should stand up when Itachi continued.

"Please tell Madara-sama all is proceeding as normal."

'Tell whom WHAT?! And tell WHOM what? And wait - I'm WHAT?'

Omake – JK Chronicles

Jk was lost. He had been walking in circles for hours and he never failed to end up where he had started; a frog infested pond.

He groaned as his clothes began to stick to his body - Konoha, even in October, was very hot and rather muggy, the humidity making his hair go poufy and his body sweat profously.

ZOOM!

Something, or someone, raced past him, causing the wind to whip around him – further agitating his hair.

'WHAT was that?'

.

.

.

ZOOM! There it was again – a green blur it seemed, this time JK actually catching a glimpse of whatever it was.

He stepped a little closer to where the blur had passed – to see if he could get a closer look if it passed again.

.

.

.

It did.

ZOOM!

But he still couldn't get a good look at it. So he got closer. And closer. And closer. The 'blurs' came at a steady rate, once every 5 minutes or so it seemed, from what he roughly measured.

Until nothing.

'Huh? It didn't happen.'

Jk turned around, curious when he felt a sudden presence and came nose to spandex-covered pectoral.

"AH! CIVILIAN-SAN, MIGHT I – KONOHA'S SUBLIME GREEN BEAST OF PREY, MAITO GAI – REQUEST YOU REMOVE YOUR YOUTHFUL SELF FROM THIS JŌNIN TRAINING GROUND. CIVILIAN-SAN MIGHT GET UNYOUTHFULLY INJURED." Gai finished with a gleaming grin and a 'thumbs up'.

For half a second, Jk stared, then…

"ARGH! THE SMILE! IT BURNS!" Before collapsing in a heap, still subconsciously clutching his face.

Gai looked down at the body, not surprised in the slightest. "HMM! HOW SHAMEFUL FOR I, THE GREEN BEAST OF KONOHA, MAITO GAI, TO – HOWEVER ACCIDENTAL – TO INJURE ONE OF KONOHA'S OWN YOUTHFUL CIVILIANS. I WILL RUN A THOUSAND TIMES AROUND THE VILLAGE IN PENANCE." Then off he went.

Maito Gai ended up beating his record lap time. No one really cared – he did that once a week.

JK ended up being eaten by frogs. No one really cared. No one really knew who the hell he was anyway.

Coming up next - preparation, soul searching, Sakura, Shikamaru, Seals and a sullen Olivia.