I'm finished with this chapter a little sooner than expected. I hope you guys like it. So far I think I like this one better than the original version of the story but that could just be me.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Ch. 13: Facing the Truth

Everyone turned to ask Itachi if what Orochimaru said was true but both of the Akatsuki members were gone. Nanami wasn't surprised. If Itachi didn't want them to know the truth then he certainly wouldn't stick around long enough for them to question him. The rest of the day was spent tending to the wounded and burning the bodies of the enemy. Because the attack had been a surprise none of the Konoha shinobi had been killed. Several were seriously injured but that was the extent of the damage.

Still they returned home exhausted and ready for a vacation. Tsunade listened to Nanami's report with interest. "So do you think Itachi killed his clan?"

"Of course," the gray eyed jonin replied. "Itachi told me that he killed his clan. He showed Sasuke using his Mangekyo Sharingan. There's no reason to suddenly doubt what happened just because Orochimaru wanted to leave us in a state of confusion."

"Anything else I should know about?"

"Yes actually. I'm going home the day after tomorrow." Nanami caught herself by surprise. She hadn't known that she wanted to go home until just now.

Apparently she surprised Tsunade as well because the hokage looked like she didn't believe what she had heard. "What?"

"I want to return to my clan for a while," Nanami repeated. "I need a vacation."

Tsunade nodded, "Alright. Give me your written report before you leave Konoha. Dismissed."

Nanami nodded and left. Sasuke was waiting for her outside the hokage's office. He looked at her with solemn dark eyes. "Did you tell her?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"And what, Sasuke? There's no reason to change our minds about what happened to your clan. Orochimaru was dying and probably wanted to muddy the waters to annoy us. He was a sadistic bastard after all."

"I suppose you're right but…"

"I know," she agreed. It was hard to squash that part of her that wanted to believe Orochimaru's last words. She turned and started walking towards her apartment. Sasuke fell into step beside her. Her mouth curved into a bittersweet smile, "I want to believe that Orochimaru told us the truth but…Fairytales don't happen in real life. Besides, why would Itachi take the blame and leave Konoha if he didn't really kill your clan?"

"I don't know." He looked at her. It still surprised him to find that he had to look down now, though he knew he was taller than her. The top of Nanami's head barely reached his shoulders. If it weren't for her eyes people would think she was fragile based on her appearance alone. But her eyes normally gave away her strength. They weren't right then though. Instead they looked almost…sad. That bittersweet expression that always appeared when she thought of Itachi hid everything else. "Do you still love him?"

She let out a frustrated sigh, "I don't know. I don't want to. It would make my life easier if I didn't but… I don't think I can hate him."

He blinked in surprised, "That's the first time you didn't just say no."

"I almost did. I lie about my feelings concerning your brother everyday. To others and to myself. If I allow myself to think for even an instant that I still love him…I think I would go insane. So I lie to get myself through a day. One day I'll have to tell the truth but for now the lie works."

"What is the truth?"

"I don't know yet. When I have to know, I will."

"Why aren't you lying now?"

"Because I respect you too much to lie. I've only admitted the truth to one other person."

"Who?"

"Kakashi. It was the day you first became a genin and told Kakashi about your goals. He asked me how I felt about them and I was honest with him…well, as honest as I could be."

Sasuke fell into silence as he considered what she had said. That's when a realization hit him. "I almost did the same thing to my friends, didn't I? I mean. I almost made them have to pretend to hate me even when they didn't."

Nanami nodded, "Yes, you did."

Sasuke looked at Nanami's eyes that were filled with pain and sorrow for what was lost to her. He couldn't believe how stupid he had been. He had been walking down the same path as his brother so he had almost done this to his friends. He had almost put that look in their eyes. Had things gone just a little differently they would have had to pretend to hate just to make it through a day. If he had joined Orochimaru, would Sakura have that same bittersweet smile that was even now on Nanami's face? No wonder Nanami fought so hard to keep him from joining Orochimaru. She knew what it felt like to be the one forced into hating someone she once loved. What else could she do but keep Naruto and Sakura from suffering the same fate she did? If he had thought things through, he would have realized the truth before too. He also knew what it felt like after all. He had also been betrayed by someone he loved. And Sakura…He didn't even what to think about what he almost did to his pink haired kunoichi. That's when he realized something else that had him wondering if he had lost his mind.

"I have to go take care of something. I'll see you tomorrow, Nanami."

She nodded, "Good night, Sasuke."

He waved and rushed off in search of someone in particular. It didn't take him long to locate her. Sakura was walking home from the hospital. Her instincts were slow after using so much chakra to heal the injured. Sasuke had his arms around her and pulled against him before she even realized he was there. She let out a small yelp of surprise. "Sasuke-kun, don't scare me like that."

"Sorry."

The tone of his voice caught her attentions. It was softer than normal. Sasuke's tone always carried an undercurrent of anger before, but that wasn't there now. She pulled away and turned to face him. His eyes were softer too. In fact, all the traces of his anger were gone at that moment. She put a hand on his forehead and frowned. He didn't have a fever so he wasn't sick. "What is it? You look…different."

"I just realized something that changes a few things for me. That's all."

"Oh?"

He pulled her into a hug and held her tight. "For the last seven years I had only one thing to live for. Avenging my clan. That's changed now. I have something else I want to live for and I didn't realize it until now."

"And what is that?" Sakura whispered. She didn't know why but she was feeling very nervous. It annoyed her that she couldn't see his face, even though his expression would give anything away.

Sasuke whispered something in her ear that Sakura would never forget as long as she lived. Her eyes widened in shock and insisted that he let her see his face. He loosened his grip so that she could. She saw it then. Deep in those onyx eyes was the truth. She smiled at him and threw her arms around his neck. It didn't matter that he would never say those words again. It didn't matter that it had taken him this long to realize that he even wanted to say them once. All that mattered was that they were true.

"I love you too, Sasuke-kun," she responded in a delighted voice. Sasuke smirked. He hadn't forgotten his second goal in life. He lifted Sakura into his arms and headed to the Uchiha compound. He would never forget his clan and would avenge them one day. Until then, he would still live his life. For the first time in his life, Sasuke Uchiha allowed himself to be happy.

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The next morning, Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, Hinata, and Nanami were gathered at the ramen shop talking and laughing with each other. Nanami kept herself distant from them. A part of her was still in turmoil over Orochimaru's last words. Why didn't she kill him before he had the chance to speak, damn it? Now she was paying for that mistake. It didn't help that she was dreaming of Itachi again. The man couldn't even leave her alone in her sleep. That pissed her off and at the same time it scared her.

"Are you alright, Nanami?" Sakura asked bringing Nanami back to the present.

She smiled, "I'm fine. I was just thinking about taking a vacation."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed on her face. That bittersweet look was still in her eyes and it worried him. He had never seen her with it for more that a few hours. It had been a little over a day, but the look showed no sign of leaving. "A vacation?"

"Yes. It's been a while since I visited my clan so I was thinking that I would. Actually, I already told Lady Tsunade that I'd be leaving tomorrow morning."

"Now that I think about it you're right. It had been a while since you've seen your clan," Sakura commented. The thought of Nanami leaving scared her. The older woman had a habit of making it feel like everything would be alright. If she wasn't there that sense of security wouldn't be there either. "But, you'll be leaving the rest of us. We might need you. Especially with the Akatsuki after Naruto."

Nanami smiled, "I didn't say anything about going alone."

"What do you mean?" Hinata asked curiously.

"I was planning on taking the four of you with me."

There was a loud cheer and everyone scattered to get ready for the trip. Nanami laughed as she went to her apartment. Kakashi was waiting inside for her and nearly scared her to death. "Damn it, Kakashi. Why didn't you wait for me to come home before breaking and entering?"

"Because that isn't as fun." His eyes suddenly showed concern, "Are you alright? I didn't get to talk to you after Orochimaru's little announcement."

"I'll be fine. It's just a little unsettling."

He nodded, "Tsunade told me that you've asked for a leave of absence."

"I have. I need…time. I have to work through my emotions again. It's been a long time since I've had this much trouble fighting by emotions." She allowed her guard to drop. It was alright now. Kakashi knew the truth anyway. Her cheerful smile faded to a bitter one. The strength in her eyes faded until her pain was visible in their gray depths. "Since the night he killed his clan I've been in absolute control but I can feel that control slipping now. I don't know what to do anymore, Kakashi."

"I'm going with you. To your compound."

She nodded. It didn't surprise her. There weren't many people who mattered to Kakashi and he was fiercely protective of the ones that did. She was among them along with Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. "Your team and Hinata are coming too. I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

"I didn't expect you to take others with you."

Nanami chuckled, "I'm not the only one that needs a vacation. I can do what I need to do just fine with them there. Sasuke is the only one outside my family that can read me well enough to be a problem." She looked at him, "Actually, that's not true. You can read me too."

"But that's not a problem."

"No. You don't want to kill Itachi."

"No, I don't."

Nanami wrote her report on the Orochimaru mission and turned it in to Tsunade. The hokage looked at the heir to the Tsukino clan with some worry. "When will you return?"

"I don't know." Nanami couldn't answer that. She didn't even know if she would come back. Her job here was finished after all. Sasuke was on the right path now and there was no danger of backsliding. She wasn't needed anymore. She could finally concentrate on other things. Her clan didn't normally get involved with Konoha anyways. That was why their compound was a day's journey from the village, so the village would have no control over her clan.

"Alright," Tsunade replied in understanding. She was aware of Nanami's thoughts and hoped that the jonin would return to the village. "Get some much deserved rest, Nanami. I hope the reclusiveness of your clan isn't contagious."

Nanami gave a nod and walked out. She spent the rest of the day packing her apartment. There wasn't much point in keeping it anymore. She looked around with slight nostalgia. It had been home for a little while, but she didn't think she would miss it. She missed the Tsukino compound and her family. Now she was going home. With a sigh she settled down to sleep.

They arrived at the Tsukino compound late the following night. As usual Nanami preferred to walk rather than run. Her clan greeted them cheerfully while seeing to it that they got some food and a place to sleep.

Lady Kimiko met them at the entrance as usual. She hit Nanami upside the head like she always did. Nanami rubbed the spot Kimiko had hit with a rueful smile. "Come on, Grandma. Do you have to hit me every time you see me?"

"If you don't start visiting more often, yes."

Everyone got a good laugh when Nanami groaned in annoyance. The two continued to have a small argument about whether or not Kimiko was allowed to hit Nanami. The rest of the group was led to bedrooms. Everyone settled down to sleep for the night except for Nanami. Nanami pretended to sleep until everyone was already in bed. She slipped out of her room and walked down the hall. She paused outside the door to one of the rooms then knocked quietly.

"Come in, Nanami. You never have to knock to come in here."

Nanami smiled ruefully as she walked into the room. It was a study that was shaped like a half circle. The wall opposite the door was made up of windows and had a large oak desk. The rest of the walls were covered in shelves loaded in books. Every book was connected to medicine or their clan's kekkei genkai. Behind the desk was Lady Kimiko. A book was open in front of her. Kimiko had been expecting Nanami to come. Her granddaughter was so predictable. When Nanami was younger, she often came to this room late at night for advice. Things didn't change as she got older.

"How did you know it was me?" Nanami asked.

"You always come to me when you need help with something. You also don't do anything without a purpose. There's a reason you've returned home now, rather that waiting until Sasuke was happily married like you planned originally." Kimiko smiled, "Now tell grandma everything that's bothering you."

Nanami sat on the visitors chair on the opposite side of the desk from her grandmother. "You use to say that when I was little too."

"It always worked. Now quit stalling and get it over with."

"Alright, alright." Nanami told her what had happened when they attacked Orochimaru.

Kimiko listened carefully. Nanami had a habit of telling everything like a report. She would leave out her own emotional response and only give the hard facts. There were only five people who could read between the lines and see what Nanami wasn't saying. Kimiko prided herself on being one of the five. Kakashi, Sasuke, and Nanami's parents are the other four. Kimiko could see the anger in Nanami's eyes as she spoke of Itachi but she could also see something else. Something Nanami tried to deny with every breath.

"Do you believe Orochimaru?" Kimiko asked curiously.

"I don't know what I believe. Part of me wants to believe it but at the same time I…I'm afraid to believe it."

"And what makes you afraid?"

"I don't know."

"Don't lie to me, Nanami Tsukino," Kimiko snapped. "You know exactly what you feel. Now admit it."

Nanami shoo her head violently. "I can't!" she shouted.

"Yes you can and you will." Kimiko stood and moved around the desk. "Now admit it, Nanami. Tell me what is at the core of your problem. That's an order."

"Fine!" Nanami shouted. Tears of frustration and anger fell down her face but she ignored them. "I love him! Is that what you want to hear?! I'm in love with a monster that was capable of killing his entire clan!" She gave a humorless chuckle and hugged herself. "I'm in love with Itachi Uchiha." Her eyes snapped open and she glared at her grandmother. "Is that what you wanted to hear, grandmother?!"

Kimiko nodded with a soft smile. "Yes, Nanami. Was that so hard to admit?"

"Yes, it was! I love him!" Nanami was shaking now. Her emotions began to boil over as they all fought to break free Do you know what that meand?! It means that I've betrayed my friends and family because I can't hate him! Not only that but I've betrayed everything I believe in by loving him! I'm a traitor to everyone! Sasuke has a right to question me now!"

"That's not true, Nanami."

"Yes, it is!"

"Nanami!" Kimiko snapped. She had to bring Nanami out of her sorrow or she's fall to pieces. "You are not a traitor!" She softened her voice when Nanami finally looked at her. "you're not betraying anyone by having feelings for Itachi. The only time you'll betray anyone by admitting how you feel about anything is if you let those feeling lead you to committing an act of betrayal."

Nanami looked away. She wasn't sure she was convinced that what her grandmother told her was the truth. There was no doubt in her mind that Sasuke would think she was a traitor. Hell, she thought she was a traitor. How could she expect Sasuke to feel any different?

"Now don't you feel better, Nanami?" Kimiko asked with a cheerful smile.

"Why in the world would I feel better? I just admitted to loving my enemy. How does that make me feel better?" Nanami demanded.

"Now dear, you are many things but stupid wasn't supposed to be one of them. To solve a problem you have to know the cause. Your feelings for Itachi are the core of all your problems. You couldn't solve the problem until you admitted that you loved him to yourself."

Nanami sighed, "I suppose you're right. The problem is…I don't know what to do about it even though I've admitted it. What am I suppose to do, grandmother? I…I can't change the way I feel. We've already established this. So what…so what am I suppose to do?"

"What ever you need too." Kimiko watched as the emotions inside Nanami began to break free. She had been waiting for this for quite some time. Nanami had been denying her feelings for the last seven years. First it was merely to survive from day to day without falling apart. Then it was because Sasuke needed her to be strong for him. Now it was time for her to allow herself to feel again. Then perhaps Nanami will be able to move on with her life. Kimiko didn't believe that Nanami would ever love anyone else but that wasn't the goal. The goal was for Nanami to be at peace with herself and her own feelings. Then perhaps she wouldn't get that bittersweet expression on her face every time she thought of Itachi. "Maybe you should go get some sleep, dear. You'll feel better in the morning."

"Yeah. Maybe." Nanami left the study but she didn't go to bed. Instead she waited until she was outside her grandmother's study and ran as fast as she could. She didn't know where she was going and she didn't care. All she wanted was to outrun her pain. She had promised herself that she was done crying but if she stopped running she would break that promise. Tears were still threatening to spill and her sorrow out weighed her anger.

'I love him,' she thought again. She couldn't believe she admitted it. 'I love him.' Wasn't she just telling Sasuke that she couldn't admit it? That had been just yesterday. Now it felt like a hundred years ago. 'I love him.' She had told him that if she allowed herself to believe it then she would break. Nothing seemed truer now. 'I love him.'

When Nanami finally came back to her senses she broke. It was here, in this beautiful clearing, that Itachi lied to her. The clearing was the same as always. A beautiful waterfall fell into a pool of crystal clear water. The forest was all around it, giving the feeling of seclusion. One could stand in that clearing and believe that there was no one else in the entire world. Nanami had spent many happy days and nights in this clearing with Itachi. Well, they had been happy for her. She was never sure what he made of them. At the time she thought he enjoyed those days too. Now…now she just didn't know.

She glared at the waterfall. Cupping her hands around her mouth she shouted, "Why, Itachi?! Give me something because I'm tired of wondering what's going on in your head?! This is the last time I cry for you! Do you hear me, Itachi?!" She didn't know why she was shouting it. All that mattered was that it was helping her control the emotions boiling inside of her. "You never cared! All those times you were here, those were all lies! I hope you're happy with that because your lies have made me miserable! I hate you, Itachi Uchiha. I hate your strength, your brains, your looks! I hate everything about you! But most of all, Itachi, I hate that I love you." The tears were falling again but she didn't stop them this time. She wrapped her arms around herself and sank to the ground. "I hate you because I love you," she whispered this time.

On the other side of a tree a man closed his eyes and steeled himself. He couldn't come out. No matter how much he longed to comfort her, to erase her tears. He couldn't go to her. He felt as if his heart was being ripped out of his chest. Damn it. Why now? Why did he come to this spot now? He couldn't hear her, but he sensed her pain and that was torturing him. He took one look around the tree and let out a sigh. She had fallen asleep. After a moment's hesitation he lifted her into his arms and took her back to her room. Her eyes open briefly when he laid her down on the bed. She mumbled his name and her eyes closed again.

"I'm sorry, Nanami," he whispered. Then he turned and left. Kimiko was waiting for him at the gates to the compound. He found himself wanting to smile just a little. The old woman was crazy but she was very wise.

Nanami's grandmother smiled at him, much to his surprise. "Hello, Itachi. What brings you here?"

Itachi didn't bother responding. Kimiko examined him. He didn't look that different from the last time she had seen him. Itachi still gazed at the world with the red eyes of the Uchiha clan. His dark hair was still long with bangs framing his face. He wore a large black cloak with red clouds on it. She assumed that was the Akatsuki cloak that Nanami mentioned once before.

"Come to finish what you started seven years ago?" she asked calmly. When his eyes narrowed she grinned. He knew she was talking about Sasuke and obviously didn't like it. "I didn't think so. Sasuke always was your one weak spot."

He still didn't speak.

"As talkative as usual I see." Her eyes suddenly narrowed and her voice was sharp. "Why are you here? You're presence causes my granddaughter pain and I won't have you toying with her."

"I would never toy with her," he replied calmly. Now why had he done that? He hadn't intended on answering her, but he hadn't been able to keep his mouth shut.

"Then why are you here?"

He looked away. How was he supposed to answer that one? He had seen Nanami lying on the ground and he hadn't been able to leave her there. Before he knew it he had started to carry her home. He didn't even believe his excuse. How could he expect Kimiko to? He didn't. She would probably call him a liar. He would have.

Kimiko sighed, "You're worse than Nanami. At least I got her to face the truth. You're still in denial aren't you, Itachi? Are you still pretending that you don't care?"

His eyes narrowed. He couldn't let her question that. "I don't care."

"Liar. I'm not an idiot so I'd appreciate it if you didn't treat me like one." She let out a small sigh. "Others may believe you killed your clan but I don't. I don't even think Nanami really believes it, though she'd never admit that. So why don't you stop lying to me, Itachi."

"I can't."

"You know. Nanami said that same thing to me earlier today. But I believe you have a better reason that just not wanting to admit the truth. At least give us something, Itachi. Nanami needs something go hope for. Or to know that she should let you go."

He opened his mouth with the lie on the tip of his tongue. He planned to tell her to make Nanami let him go. That much he would swear too, but that wasn't what came out when he spoke. Instead he found himself saying, "If I tell the truth he will kill Sasuke and Nanami. I can't allow that."

"Who?"

"I've said too much," he grumbled more to himself that to Kimiko. What was the matter with him? He was known for his silent attitude, and yet here he was talking about things he shouldn't. "Tell Nanami to move on with her life. When Sasuke and I meet next time, we will have a fight to the death."

"Who's death? Yours or his?"

He didn't answer. Instead he walked by her towards the gate. "Nanami's better off without me. Make sure she knows that." He disappeared into the night and managed to only look back once.

Kimiko looked to her left and spoke into the shadows. "How much have you over heard?"

"All of it," came the reply. Sasuke walked forward with a frustrated look in his dark eyes. "I don't know what to do anymore than Nanami does. Everything just gets more and more confusing with each day. I can only imagine what Nanami must be going through."

"What will you do? Itachi seems determined to keep up the belief that he killed his clan, whether he really did or not."

"I'm not sure what I believe." He raked fingers through his hair in frustration. "I think I'm going to try and find the truth. For Nanami's sake if nothing else."

Kimiko nodded, "Good. Now we just have to figure out how to find the truth."

"This is too much to think about tonight." Sasuke turned to go to bed. "I'll see you in the morning, Lady Kimiko."

"Oh, by the way, Sasuke. I should remind you that I plan to cure you of that curse mark tomorrow."

He nodded. "Of course."

Early the next morning, Sasuke knocked on Nanami's door. She looked up at him when he entered with a smile. Her smile faded when she saw the grim look on his face. "What? What is it?"

"I saw Itachi last night."

She frowned and looked out her window. "I thought I dreamed it," she whispered almost to herself. "I saw him too. Briefly, but I was so tired that I didn't believe it."

"Are you alright?" he asked cautiously. Sasuke didn't know if it was a good idea to tell her that he had heard her talking to her grandmother. It would probably only worry her. He didn't want to do that. She had enough to deal with. He didn't blame her for her feelings. THose were beyond her control. He found himself smirking. A few years ago he would have hated her for still loving Itachi. Now it was her actions that he judged her for. Sasuke knew that Nanami would never, ever betray him. That was what mattered.

She smiled, "I'm alright, or I will be. I just have a few demons to work through."

He nodded, "Your grandmother wants our presence. She's ready to remove the curse mark. I think she'll need your help."

"I'm coming."

They made their way through the compound until they reached a large empty room. Kimiko and Setsuna stood in the middle of the room. Setsuna was just standing after painting odd symbols on the floor. Kimiko smiled at them, "Welcome. Sasuke, you remember Setsuna, don't you?"

Sasuke nodded, "Yes. Nanami's father right?"

"That's me," Setsuna replied with a small smile.

Nanami grinned, "He's also supposed to be the head of the clan."

"What do you mean by supposed to be?" Sestuna asked in a calm tone while giving his daughter a mock glare.

"Well, everyone knows that grandmother is the real boss of the clan."

"Is that so?"

Kimiko looked at Setsuna, "Dear, have Sasuke sit in the center of the room."

"Of course, mother."

"See," Nanami said.

They all laughed. Kimiko looked at Sasuke who was sitting in the middle of the room now. "Are you ready?"

Sasuke allowed himself to relax, "I am."

Kimiko sat back and looked at her granddaughter. "Nanami dear, you will have to perform the jutsu."

"Of course." Nanami looked at her grandmother in confusion, "But why?"

"Because you have the closest connection to him. The process of removing the seal will depend somewhat on our kekkei genkai. I told you once that our kekkei genkai automatically heals people that we care about. You're bond with Sasuke is the strongest so you get to do the jutsu. Now let's get started."

That's it. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you thought. I was very dissappointed about not having any reviews for the last chapter...thought one person did favorite the story...but reviews are still nice. I'll get the next chapter up ASAP.