CHAPTER TWELVE: ACCUSATIONS
I had risen out of the trench and had gone head first straight into the firing line.
Tsunade's eyes could burn holes through me as I walked into the Hokage's office as she sent away her assistants. She rose from her seat to turn directly away from me and gazed out over Konoha. The tension in the air between could be cut even with a blunt kunai.
Regardless of my own questions I waited in silence and tried to feign respect, which was the least I could do in my position.
Minutes passed and I could sense the frustration and anger resonating from Tsunade, as hot headed as she could be I'm sure she would return mutual respect to me. After all, she was maybe the only motherly figure I had.
"Eden you need to carefully explain yourself." Tsunade didn't turn to face me, I assumed this was coming from so many conflicting feelings both from being a leader as well as being a guardian to me.
"I'm not working with them, Tsunade," my words came across stronger than I felt myself, "anyone can think whatever they want about me and I don't care if they do think negatively, but you know I wouldn't lie to you."
Silence, again. Tsunade turned ever so slightly towards me and looked directly at me, I almost felt as if she was looking through me. I stood my ground and tried to appear as natural as I could. A strange feeling bubbled inside me almost like rage but I composed my exterior to be as placid as possible: it was my chakra, the new awakened Uchiha powers inside of me bursting at every crack and crease.
Before I let Tsunade speak words erupted from me uncontrollably.
"Tsunade you knew who would be in that hideout and you knew exactly how much danger I would be in yet you made no efforts to stop me. There are dozens of able ninjas in this village, hell you could have even sent Kakashi to do your dirty work but you sent me." The rage was winning and my arms were shaking with anger, it was more directed at myself for letting myself get carried away. "How can you stand there infront of me and accuse me of anything!? You've taken care of me as your own daughter since the day the Uchiha clan was massacred and yet you have the audacity to point the finger at me!?"
Stop Eden, just stop..
"I have more of a leg to stand on if I point the finger at you, Tsunade. I was the most vulnerable person you could have sent on that mission. Eren would have flat out refused but you knew how naive I am and that I would accept it-"
"You were the only one who would have accepted it without any questions asked, Eden, and you are the only ninja I trust besides your brother and Kakashi to get any results and of which you have none. You put your entire team in danger because of your little disappearing act and we nearly lost a team of ANBU due to being ambushed by the Akatsuki trying to trace you!"
I knew I'd caused havoc but I maybe didn't realise just how much or to what extent.
"I'll remind you again, Eden. You need to carefully explain yourself."
I fell quiet, the severity of my lack of thought over the last few days beginning to dawn on me. What if it had been Eren who had been ambushed? I was thankful there had been no repercussions.
"Tsunade I'm not-"
"Conveniently, of the Akatsuki members we did run into the past few days pursuing you, no one caught sight of Itachi Uchiha or even sensed his cruel chakra signature. It's almost like he disappeared, much like you did."
The blood drained from my face almost immediately.
"T-Tsunade-"
"I'll ask you myself then, Eden." Tsunades voice became so stern and almost hostile. "Are you in any way working on behalf of the Akatsuki? Or are you conspiring at all with Itachi Uchiha?"
Eden you need to think of something quickly and calmly..
The alert conscience in my head made me question yet again what exactly made me a jonin, even answering questions was making me unsettled and fumble. I couldn't speak, anything I could muster wouldn't make sense and before I knew it silence filled the room like a gas cloud.
Tsunade sighed in acknowledgment of my conflicted self and turned away to once more look out over Konoha.
"Eden please understand anything I do or say is only in best interests to keeping the village safe-"
"Tsunade I'm not part of the Akatsuki.."
"Then how do you explain your sudden chakra change? I should have felt you the second you stepped foot back into Konoha.."
I started to shake, I wanted so much to tell Tsunade everything but I couldn't. Something was amiss in Konoha, maybe something big and just something I had to hide myself from or at least Itachi swore on. Holding trust to Itachi was becoming increasingly hard and I just knew I was pushing away all those I held so close: Tsunade, Eren, Kakashi..
Solitude was swiftly becoming the most familiar feeling inside me and I bit down on my lip in frustration.
"I.. can't.."
A sigh escaped from Tsunades being once more as she tilted her head to the side slightly. "You can leave, Eden, but you are being watched closely by those even higher than I am. I won't place any seals on you but.. please.. don't break the trust I have in you, please.."
Leaving came so effortless. I almost darted out of the building and I sprinted home as fast as my legs could carry me. Without meaning to I slammed the front door shut and retreated to my own room. Eren wasn't home and I was thankful I could have a breakdown without worrying anyone else. My eyes fell upon a note upon my chest of drawers addressed to me:
"Eden,
I'm sorry I'm not home but I've been sent on a mission that is apparently not something I can refuse..
The Akatsuki have moved hideouts and a select few of us ANBU have gotta do some snoopin'. I believe you Eden, somehow I'll get something that proves you aren't involved with 'em
I'll be home in a few days, Kakashi will check in I'm sure
Please don't do anything rash, and please just stay safe..
Eren x"
And just like that I was quarantined by my own loneliness. I couldn't stop the tears I tried holding in from falling but there was no one around me to catch them.
The red setting sun was beginning to bleed over Konoha and time was starting to slip away from me. I needed Itachi; I needed to know what the big secret was and why my Uchiha blood was such a bad omen now.
But where was Itachi? If Eren's note to me was true then.. had Itachi disappeared again? My heart felt so heavy and so delicate, and my eyes began to burn from the amount of tears I'd shed.
I'd found myself absentmindedly staring bleakly out if my bedroom window and my eyes caught sight of a solitary black crow. Had I known any better I could have sworn it was watching me before taking flight and disappearing into the looming evening sky.
I was alone and my breaking heart screamed for Itachi.
