Chapter 14: Blissful Reunion, Tragic Departure

Konoha General Hospital, Konohagakure no Sato (1122 hours April 3, 8 AK)

"Hello Uzumaki-san. It has been quite some time."

Naruto examined the ANBU who arrived unannounced to Suzu's room for a couple of seconds before deadpanning.

"Nope." Naruto merely said.

"Whatever do you mean, Uzumaki-san?" Weasel asked Naruto, confused about his single-word statement.

"I've never seen you before in my life 'ttebayo!" Naruto grunted. "How da hell has it 'been quite some time?'" Naruto sarcastically formed quotation marks with his two hands to emphasize the idiocy of Weasel's statement.

"Uzumaki-san, I can guess that, from my current attire and porcelain mask, you assumed that I was an ANBU, correct?" Weasel began.

"Uh huh…?" Naruto agreed to an extent, not understanding where this is coming from.

"And, presuming that your assumption of my occupation is correct, I would be a master of stealth, am I wrong?"

"Uh…I don't see where this is going…"

"If I was indeed ANBU, Uzumaki-san, I would be deeply ashamed to have allowed my presence to be detected by a 7-year old Academy student."

"Well why didn't ya say that beforehand, 'ttebayo!" Naruto shouted at the epiphany (that Weasel needed to spell out for him). "Wait…does that mean you've been spying on me?"

"I cannot disclose that information to you, Uzumaki-san." Weasel said avoiding the subject.

"AH HAH!" Naruto shouted, as if catching Weasel in a corner. "That means you were spying on me, weren't you?!"

"I cannot disclose that information to you, Uzumaki-san." Weasel repeated in a monotone voice. Behind his mouth, he allowed a small smile to flicker across his face. He was enjoying messing around with Naruto. It was the simplest pleasures like these moments that Weasel learned to enjoy. When not in life-risking missions or mission that involved an extended leave of absence from the village, Weasel gradually grew to accept and relish minor pleasantries. He would never allow anyone to know, but one of his favorite hobbies to do in his downtime is visiting traditional cafés all across Konoha. Not even his own brother knew of his (slightly feminine) interest.

"Whatever. I still think you've been following me…creep." Naruto mumbled, crossing his hands over his chest in disgust.

Weasel did not reply to Naruto, allowing him to think whatever he wishes. "How is Suzu-chan, Uzumaki-san?"

"What, you've been stalking her too?" Naruto said sarcastically. He then softened his gaze and looked at Suzu. Weasel could sense the concern Naruto had for Suzu's well-being. Even the months apart could not truly separate these two from each other. Weasel could appreciate such a close-knit bond like the one these two shared. He remembered when he once held such an unbreakable friendship.

Weasel hated dwelling on the past. His past had been nothing but misfortune and struggles. He'd rather just move on with the future, but some remnants of the past could not help but cling tightly to his heart.

"No, Uzumaki-san." Weasel said. "I…you could say that I am her primary caretaker…in a sense."

What's that supposed to mean?" Naruto asked.

"I cannot—"

"Disclose that information to you, Uzumaki-san…blah blah blah." Naruto said, using his hands to imitate the flapping of lips. "Gosh, you've said that so many times, you're like a broken record player 'ttebayo!"

"I'm glad that you understand, Uzumaki-san." Weasel said.

"So what's ANBU gotta do with Suzu-chan?"

"I cannot—"

"Forget I asked."

Weasel smiled again underneath the mask. He moved closer to Suzu so that he could sit next to her. Hopefully his company would ease the girl's trouble.

Weasel did not hear of Suzu's collapse until recently. Events transpiring at the Uchiha Clan Compound have been spiraling out of control recently, and Weasel had spent the majority of his time in attempts to keep it from deteriorating any further. Weasel could handle the stress of his job, but when he heard from the Hokage that Suzu's health suddenly plummeted, he came as fast as he could to assist in any way possible.

He could admit it to himself that he truly saw the introverted little girl as a little sister of sorts. Her company always took Weasel's mind off his family and his job, much like his visits to Konoha's cafés. When he received the news, it was the first time in his life that he was actually worried. At first he did not know what emotion he was feeling. His heart felt heavier and there was anxious movement in his lower torso, but he could not word his feelings appropriately. Only after describing his body's odd reactions to the Hokage did he learn what worry was.

Weasel placed his index and middle finger in between Suzu's open palm. He was slightly surprised to see Suzu's hand close instinctually. There was also a hint of a smile growing across Suzu's face. Maybe she really was attentive of her surroundings.

"Neh, ANBU-san." Naruto called out.

"What is it Uzumaki-san?" Weasel asked.

"Ugh, please enough with the formalities 'ttebayo!" Naruto shouted, quickly shaking his hands over his face. "Man, I could never get used to that. You're kinda like Suzu-chan when I first met her! Just call me Naruto."

"Very well then Naruto-kun." Weasel corrected himself.

"You know, coming from you…that honorific is kinda scary." Naruto shivered, a deep sense of foreboding tingling his spine.

"My apologies, Naruto-kun."

Naruto sighed. "Hey, what's your deal with Suzu-chan? You seem kinda close to her, if you know what I mean?"

"As I have said before, I am her primary caretaker." Weasel said.

"Yeah but there's kinda a big difference between a 'primary caretaker' and you, y'know." Naruto elaborated. "Like, I can tell you and her are kinda really close."

"That may be the case, Naruto-kun." Weasel said, agreeing with the blonde. "You are indeed correct in your observation."

"Heh heh, I know right?" Naruto chuckled. "What do you like in Suzu-chan?"

"Hmm…" Weasel contemplated for a couple of seconds. "The trait I most identify with her is her honesty. For a girl her age, I feel like she is genuine in her interest and emotions, as well as her desire for relationships. I find her desire to maintain whatever relationship she holds dear to her very appealing. To be honest, I wished I had the same sort of drive when it comes to relationships as she does."

Weasel tried to keep his answer as generalized as possible to avoid any inference from Naruto. But he wondered why he revealed a little too much about his personal thoughts. Somehow, Weasel found it easy and relaxing to communicate with the jinchuuriki.

"Huh." Naruto said. "Well, I really liked the way she came up to me and said she wanted to be my friend! Kinda letting you on a little secret, but I don't have much friends. But since you are a stalker, I'm pretty sure you already knew that…creep." Naruto said. As he thought about the memories of his first meeting with Suzu, his smile grew larger and larger. "She's brave and adventurous, not like anyone I've ever seen before. She also doesn't take any crap from anybody. I guess…I guess I kinda wanna be like her a bit, y'know."

"She inspires you, Naruto-kun?" Weasel said, giving him the word that he wanted.

"Yeah! That's the word, inspire!"

"Suzu-chan does seem to inspire hope in people." Weasel spoke from experience.

"But y'know," Naruto began going solemn all of a sudden. "I think it's just a cover-up, you get what I mean?"

"I think I can agree with you on that point, Naruto-kun."

There was silence for a couple of minutes as both inhabitants of the room thought of the unspoken incident. They both knew how much it affected her, despite outward appearance and her usual demeanor.

"…I'm sure you already know this…" Naruto began. "…But Suzu…I think Suzu said that she killed her parents…"

Weasel remained silent. He did know of that particular crime, but he was not at liberty to discuss it any further than he should.

"I don't know what I'm thinking when I say this, but I think she's…uh…holding back her feelings, I guess? There was this one time, back at the orphanage, when a couple a kids decided to come and pick on us, right? And Suzu…she didn't take too kindly to the kids and what they were doing…Man, this is harder to talk about than I thought."

"You do not need to talk about anything Naruto-kun," Weasel said. "It was a traumatic experience; discussing the event in detail could bring up grueling memories that are best kept under wraps."

"No, but I need to talk about it y'know?" Naruto said. "I just can't keep this thing bottled up, and neither can Suzu!"

The silence that ensued was Weasel approval for continuation. Naruto got the hint, so he braced himself mentally and continued his story.

"Suzu hurt two of the bullies really, really badly. Like, really bad really bad. I told her to stop, because they didn't deserve that kinda punishment. She did stop. She turned around, and I saw a tear going down her face. But then she told me that I shouldn't be crying. That 'shinobi don't cry, shinobi endure,' or something along those lines."

"Naruto-kun, you truly are an empathetic human being." Weasel said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you care deeply about those that surround you." Weasel said. "You take their emotions into consideration when that time calls for it, and you make your decisions based off what others are feeling."

Naruto shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, I guess…"

"It's a good trait to have in a friend. Suzu must be very lucky to have you as her closest friend. In most cases, no one would try to stand up for the bullies insensitive actions. They would have blindly dismissed them as cold-hearted and apathetic, undeserving of even a shred of sympathy."

"You think so?"

"Well, I've been looking out for you for quite some time, Naruto-kun."

"So you admit to being a stalker then, stalker-san?"

Weasel rubbed Naruto's hair in an affectionate manner. He was just like Suzu, interested to know what exactly he does. And, just like Suzu, Weasel wasn't about to open his mouth for anything.

Naruto returned her gaze to Suzu. He tightened his hold on Suzu's hands, feeling her warmth transfer over to his body. "Suzu-chan may not look like it, but I know she's suffering. She's going through some things that not even I can go through, and she still has a smile on her face. I want to help her in any way I can. I want her to know that I'm here for her, just like she was here for me. I just want to scream to her face, y'know? That 'shinobi don't cry' shit is total bull crap! That she could cry all she wants on my shoulders, and I wouldn't even change my opinion of her."

"N…Naruto…?" Whispered a small feminine voice. Both Weasel and Naruto turned immediately to Suzu, who was slowly rising from her bed. "Naruto? Naruto!" She hugged the blonde boy in her overwhelming excitement. She did not know what was happening, or where she was, but she didn't care. She had not seen the blonde boy in so long. She did not even know what to do, so she allowed her body to respond in the most natural way.

"Suzu-chan!" Naruto shouted, returning her hug closely. "Oh Suzu-chan, I missed you sooooooooooooooo much!"

"I missed you too, Naruto-kun!" Suzu started to hiccup. "I…*hic* missed you, too…*hic*"

Naruto lightly tapped Suzu in her forehead. Suzu brought her hands to rub the sore part of her forehead in confusion.

"Idiot! Don't hold back!" Naruto lectured. "I…*hic* I know you wanna cry!" The tears began to stream down Naruto's face. He just allowed his tears to roll down. He allowed himself to hiccup and breathe deeply. He truly missed Suzu, and he was not going to pretend for a minute to not cry or hold back.

"Oh…Naruto-kun, I…I…" Suzu wanted to say. But she found herself choking the words in her pent up tears. "I…WAH! I missed you so much wahhhh…"

The wet-works that Suzu had restrained for so long finally kicked in. She couldn't help but bawl like a baby. Hiccups, coughs, choked phrases, Suzu accepted her tears. She wasn't going to hold back, either. Not with Naruto. With Naruto, she could be who she really was, and she would not be afraid of him judging her. He was just that kind.

Weasel saw the entire scene with excessive happiness. This was the reunion that Suzu had wanted throughout her isolation. He knew that her thoughts had always been on her one true friend, and this exchange warmed him deeply. He felt as though he was intruding on something very personal, so he decided that it was time to take his leave. Honestly, he wanted to spend some time with Suzu before he left, but he was content knowing that she was happy with Naruto. Although, deep down inside, Weasel was feeling pained at his departure.

In his wake, he left a letter and a packet of dango. Hopefully Suzu would read it soon. He wished he did not have to resort to such a distant method, but he was slowly running out of time. Things were escalating far too rapidly, and he could ill-afford time to spend on his own selfish desires. He only hoped that Suzu would not react too badly over this. But Weasel knew better. Weasel knew better.

Shinobi killed their hearts to become as efficient as possible. Weasel understood this well. Weasel knew that Suzu understood this equally. He hated the system that denied kids an adequate childhood, raising them to become callous murderers for a living. But this was the nightmare that they all lived in. They could either adapt…or die.

So Weasel steeled himself. Weasel tossed his sorrows, grief, and separation anxiety aside and prepared himself.

'Sorry Suzu. It looks like I won't be keeping that promise after all.'

The Academy, Konohagakure no Sato (0815 hours May 20, 8 AK)

Sasuke quietly took his seat in his usual place; the farthest seat in the middle table of the right hand row. He found this seat to be the most efficient in terms of absorbing the information being taught to him by his instructors. Sasuke, after two weeks since the beginning of the school year had found two important bits of information from the behavior of his classmates: One, many of them was noisy and uninterested in education. It was annoying trying to learn advanced algebra from the instructors when your neighbors were discussing the latest Fujikaze Yukie film that hit the theatres last night. Sasuke had no interest in these superfluous conversations, but that in itself did not prevent the rest of his classmates from engaging in them.

Even worse than One was Two. Two, he had an ever growing fan base of pre-adolescent girls, enamored with grandiose dreams of romance. Sasuke strove to work the best that he could because he did not want to disappoint his family. And his effort was clearly demonstrated in his midterm grades. Sasuke was excelling in every subject, receiving being placed in the highest percentile of his grade level for every single subject, ranging from taijutsu to senjutsu*. In light of his achievements, coupled with his status as a member of the Uchiha, Sasuke was being fawned over by every single female in his class.

Every. Single. Female.

Well, except for two. The Hyūga, who sat all the way in the back of the left hand row of tables, did not seem to care for Sasuke. He caught her taking peeks of him on occasion, but she never expressed any real interest in the Uchiha. Sasuke did not care much for the Hyūga either. Originally he was thrilled at the possibility of having her as a potential rival (and destroying her academically would only bolster his image in the face of his father), but she performed mediocrely throughout the beginning of trimester.

She struggled to understand basic concepts, like the utility of chakra in ninjutsu, or how to cooperate effectively within a team. Her taijutsu was stellar, if that were any condolence to her lackluster abilities, but that was to be expected. She outperformed the majority of the class (with, of course, the sole exception of himself), but the Hyūga were known for their advanced taijutsu techniques in the form of their Jūken. Outside of taijutsu, she was nothing. A sniveling, weak Hyūga. His father wouldn't be proud of their son for outclassing someone who did not amount to anything other than the dirt on the floor.

Then there was that girl. The red girl.

He remembered it very well. It was probably the most awkward experience he's ever had so far in the Academy. She suddenly screamed at the Yamanaka, completely terrified of her as she approached the red girl. And then she fainted. She did not return to school for an entire week. When she did come back, she took her seat exactly opposite of the Hyūga and simply paid attention to lessons. She never contributed to classes, never bringing about her own opinions on matters or engaging in academic discussions. She was as silent as the Aburame, and as closeted as the Hyūga.

However, she did exhibit some academic prowess. While the Yamanaka exceeded her in many of the subjects, the red girl held her own in the top ten percentile in the class. The only class she fared poorly in was Teamwork. The red girl was absolutely abysmal when it came to collaborating with her classmates. She refused to talk to others concerning assignments, and her awkward behavior was repulsive. People were more comfortable staying away from the girl instead of being around her presence for longer than 3 seconds.

Sasuke could see how much that seclusion was affecting the girl, too. He could tell that she earnestly tried to fit in with groups when she was assigned to them, but she just did not know what to do. She was a horrible conversationalist, and her tomboyish behavior (as well as her disinterest in Uchiha Sasuke) stunted her relationship with many of the girls in the class.

To make matters worse, that kid, Meichi, the one who had gone to the Grandmaster's office on the first day, was actively alienating the girl with false rumors and accusations of her past. The rumors and accusations were completely far-fetched (she was the reason he had only one eye? She killed off her entire family), and Sasuke ignored them entirely. But other kids, already grossed out by the red girl's gawkiness, flocked like pigeons to Meichi's claims.

It was disheartening to say the least. Sasuke could sympathize with the girl. But that's the farthest he was interested in taking his relationship with the girl. The girl did not prove to be a potential asset that boosts Sasuke's future. She was just another classmate from a clan-less family, like that pink-haired girl with the large forehead. She clung tightly to Sasuke, despite clear hints and warnings from the boy. At least the red girl and the Hyūga were not romantically invested in Sasuke. He sighed in relief to know that not all of the kunoichi in his class were mindless harpies.

Hence his predicament. Surrounded by classmates unconcerned with their future as shinobi, Sasuke found it a tad bit more difficult to reliably concentrate to the task at hand. His current seat was a remedy to the problem. At the very least, it kept his fan base in check. He sat in a position where all of his cardinal directions were occupied with another male. For the time being, there were no females that would attempt to distract his attention from the lesson.

Iruka walked into the room with a handful of pass-outs, like he usually did with his classes.

"Alright class, settle down and get ready. The lesson is about to begin." The usual words to begin his class. "For the last couple of days, you've been learning about taijutsu, the technique of the body. Taijutsu is one of the three essential jutsu for a shinobi to master. Does anybody remember the other two jutsu?"

The Akimichi, Chōji was his name, raised his hand. Well, raised his left hand. The right was digging into a bag of chips. Although it was against the rules to eat in class, the Academy made a special exception for Akimichi students. Something about their fat being used in techniques? Sasuke couldn't remember. Clans like the Akimichi were unnecessary to worry about.

"Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, Umino-sensei." Chōji answered, crunching on a chip. The kids did not have an issue with Chōji's binge eating. Meichi learned the hard way, when he was smashed in the face by a giant fist after calling Chōji fat. No one ever bothered Chōji like that again.

"Excellent Chōji." Iruka praised.

Sasuke scoffed. That was a simple answer. Anyone worth their salt could answer it with ease. The teacher shouldn't be praising his students for something they should have engrained in their memory. He should have said "As expected," or something similar. That's what his father would have done.

"Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu make up the Shinobi Trinity. Skills that shinobi require to work in their occupation. We went into depth with what exactly was taijutsu, and we studied a bit on senjutsu. Today, we are going to stray from those topics and move onto a category completely distinct in its own right. We are going to begin lessons on Ninjutsu."

Iruka started to hand out the pass-outs he brought with him to class. A student would take one and pass it down over their shoulders to the next row, until every student received a copy. Even misfits like Meichi and the lazy Nara got copies of the lesson plan.

"Now, before we begin our lesson on Ninjutsu, can anyone explain to me what chakra is?" Iruka asked.

Silence permeated the room. 'What? Does nobody know what chakra is?' Sasuke thought in bewilderment. Seriously, what were parents teaching their children these days? He could understand not knowing an ounce of Ninjutsu, but every child entering the Academy should, at the very least, know the definition of chakra.

Sasuke was not about to raise his hands. Although he was an exceptional student, he never took part in lessons unless the need arise. He disliked flaunting unnecessarily. It brought undesired attention upon himself, and with that attention came the ridiculous adoration from his fan girls. Iruka, being the meticulous sensei that he was, never called on Sasuke during class as a result. It was a sort of unspoken agreement between the two, one that Sasuke was very grateful for.

But this was completely absurd. No one, literally no one, would even tackle the question. Not even the Hyūga…no, no, the Hyūga was too shy for her own good. Even if she knew the answer, the pressure of the sudden spotlight would most likely cause her to black out.

Sasuke was about to answer the question, to save his classmates the embarrassment of not knowing such common knowledge, when a girl behind him spoke up.

"U…Um, isn't chakra the molding of one's physical energy and spirit energy?"

"Yes, that is correct Sakura-san!" Iruka exclaimed. "Very good!"

Haruno Sakura…huh? That was another girl from a clan-less family. Sasuke palmed his face. He was surrounded by heir-apparents, and the clan-less girl was the only one to actually attempt to answer the question? How pathetic.

Sasuke would have given the girl a little more credit, had she not been one of his raving fan-girls. Sakura was one of the most vocal of the fan girls. She and the Yamanaka heir (who was had the second highest grade in their class) had a schism in their friendship, developing into bitter rivals. Both girls contested over which one of them would win Sasuke's affection first. It may not be noticeable, but for an Uchiha of Sasuke's caliber, he did not miss that, after their friendship dissolved, the Haruno girl began growing her hair. 'Must be that stupid rumor that's been going around…' Sasuke thought.

Let the girls think what they will. Ultimately, their feeble-minded attempts at a pseudo-romance will never catch Sasuke's attention.

"As Sakura-san so aptly put it, Chakra is the result of the molding of 'physical energy', which comes from the cells in your body, and spiritual energy, which originates from your thoughts, emotions, and feelings. Once molded, chakra will begin to flow through your body via the Keirakukei, the Chakra Network. Naturally, your body produces chakra, though the amount varies from person to person. As chakra is formed from your body's natural interactions, chakra is vital to the continuance of life. Running out of chakra, for instance, can cause a person to grow very tired, or even pass out. Severe chakra exhaustion can even be fatal, so it's important to balance the amount of chakra you use and the reserves you have."

Various students nodded with understanding. Of course, Sasuke already knew all this. Bored, he rested his head on his hand and continued, reluctantly, to listen to the lesson.

"It's also important to note that, while every human is born with the capability of using chakra, only specialists are able to fully utilize the chakra they produce in everyday functions. These specialists are referred to as shinobi: you and me. Shinobi use chakra to the greatest possible effect. There are some samurai that use chakra to enhance the power of their katana, but they cannot use chakra in a similar manner as we shinobi."

"Chakra is the vital ingredient needed for Ninjutsu and Genjutsu. So, before we begin our lessons on Ninjutsu, everyone will learn how to better control their chakra flow." Grabbing a leaf from the table, Iruka showed it around to his students. "Now kids, what is this?"

"A leaf." The majority of the class cried out in mundane monotone. There was nothing special about a leaf, just like there was nothing special about this lesson.

"That's right class! This is a leaf. An ordinary, generic leaf that I pulled out from one of the trees I passed through on my way over to class today. Now, what will happen if I try to put this leaf on my forehead?

"It's gonna fall." Again with the same bored cacophony.

"Very good! It seems like you kids are very well acquainted with our little friend gravity!" Iruka chuckled to himself. Seeing that nobody got the reference, he coughed on his fist and returned back to the subject. He placed the leaf on his forehead, and watched it as it fell gently to the ground.

"Now, what would happen if I used chakra to place the leaf on my forehead?"

Silence. Sasuke knew, but seriously. No one else knew?

Iruka placed the leaf on his forehead again. But instead of falling majestically to the ground, the leaf remained in place. "See? The leaf doesn't fall!"

Several kids wowed in awe at the leaf's refusal to fall at the ground. Some even called hacks. Regardless, the leaf remained stationary on Iruka's forehead, rebelling against gravity by the will of Iruka.

"Now what would happen if I were upside down? Would the leaf still be on my forehead, or would it fall?"

"It's gonna fall!" The kids cried out, a little excited now that something interesting was happening.

"Let's try it out." Iruka said walking to the blackboard. That in itself was not noteworthy. When he put his left foot on the blackboard, that did not garner any praise.

When he put his right foot on the blackboard, the children were shocked. What was even more shocking was that Iruka was standing still.

He was standing on the wall without falling.

And then he began to walk up to the ceiling. The kids were roaring in awe at Iruka's nature-defying acts. When Iruka stood on the ceiling, with the leaf still stuck on his forehead, the class exploded in applause.

Even Sasuke had to admit that was kind of cool.

Sasuke regularly saw shinobi running on the rooftop of buildings. But never did he see someone ascend a perpendicular surface with nonchalant ease.

It was pretty tempting. The appeal of the technique made Sasuke even more eager to try it out.

"What I just did was an advanced form of chakra control, something that you kids will be learning when you guys eventually become shinobi. But, for now, I am expecting you to learn the Leaf Concentration exercise. We will work on this exercise for the next two weeks, so there is no rush. For now, that is the end of today's lecture. If you have any question regarding chakra or Ninjutsu, just let me know on your way out. Have a wonderful day, students!"

With that, everyone scurried around, going to their friends to talk about the Leaf Concentration exercise. Many of the kids were really excited at the possibility of sticking a leaf on their forehead. Some were even thinking about different ways to employ the exercise.

Sasuke would have none of that. He was vastly more interested in the way Iruka climbed up the wall, walked to the ceiling, and stood on the ceiling without even falling. It seemed like such a fascinating skill to have at his disposal, and Iruka even mentioned it was an advanced technique. If Sasuke learned this technique, then maybe he would be able to further impress his father. But Sasuke had no idea where to begin, and Iruka was most likely not going to teach him, feeling that it is probably far above his current skill cap.

Maybe he could get Itachi to teach him? Itachi was not as busy these days with his work in ANBU. Hopefully Itachi would not do that stupid "finger-poke-to-the-forehead" gesture, apologize to him, and tell him maybe another time. He hated when Itachi did that. It made him feel like he was a child.

Uchiha Clan Compound, Konohagakure no Sato (1732 hours May 20, 8 AK)

Itachi lightly poked Sasuke in the forehead with his index and middle finger. "Sorry Sasuke," Itachi said, as if rehearsed. "Maybe another time."

Sasuke puffed his cheeks in anger. Pouting would do him no good at this moment. He probably should not have been that hopeful earlier in the day.

Outskirts of Konohagakure no Sato (1919 hours May 20, 8 AK)

"So has Konoha finally made their decision?"

"…Not yet. Sandaime Hokage is adamant about seeking a peaceful resolution to the crisis."

"As naïve as ever, that Sandaime. I chuckle every time I hear him referred to as the "God of Shinobi." He paled in comparison to Senju Hashirama. That old fool will never amount to his capacity."

"…"

"I trust that our exchanges has continued to go unnoticed?"

"Konoha has picked up some interference in the barrier system. They suspect that there may be a possible intruder lurking around the Uchiha Clan Compound. I doubt they suspect that it is you though."

"It is shocking indeed. If I were anybody else, I would be skeptical of my own survival. I guess my phantom presence will leave them even more suspicious of the Uchiha."

"Is there no other way?"

"Are you still having doubts? The Uchiha were destined to fall. Ever since they disavowed me all those years ago, this was the only path that opened up to them. They ridiculed my predictions, so I desired nothing to do with them. Ultimately, I am still alive, while they…"

"…"

"I'd hate to see the fruits of my labor go to waste, but I have bigger goals to attend to. If you desire sanctuary, my organization could surely provide that for you."

"Organization?"

"Akatsuki."

"Isn't that the—"

"The Amegakure rebellion group? Yes, it is. But their Leader has taken a liking to my ideals of a peaceful world. We work towards the same goal. Just like what we are doing right now."

"…"

"I understand that you are wary of the method to achieve this heinous task. But, remember that the ends justify the means. By killing off all the Uchiha, we would have averted a devastating civil war in your village."

"But still—"

"Let me be clear. We are human. We have a genetic propensity towards violent outcomes that we cannot help. This ideal of pacifism of yours…it's a farce. A fool's dream. Surely, if every man was as liberal as you are, then we would not need to go through with this 'solution.' But the Uchiha, as you have come to realize, are not like that. The Uchiha are blinded by arrogance and incentivized by power."

"I know. I…know."

"I must admit, I was baffled. I did not expect a shinobi from your village to accurately infer my survival and continued existence. I also was not expecting such a request coming from you. Although you have the skills, you do not seem to be a man with a knack for violence."

"There was no other alternative. Ever since he died…"

"Do not waste your time thinking about tragic memories. What's done is done and cannot be undone."

"…"

"Are you prepared? Can you handle the task?"

"…I am…I had time to think about this. I believe I am ready."

"Excellent. Remember, my offer still stand."

"…Just so long as you keep your end of the bargain."

"I will not touch your little brother so long as he lives."

"…I can trust you…can I, Madara-sama?"

"Itachi, my dear boy. You know better. We are shinobi. Trust will only get us stabbed in the back. Just like Konoha nearly was with the Uchiha. If you want me to keep my word, you'll have to kill me as soon as the deed is done."

"…"

"I suspected as much. You are wise beyond your age. Truly a prodigy in every definition of the word. Trust is shallow, Itachi. But respect will get you places. For all that it is worth, you have earned my respect."

"…"

"As conniving as a weasel, eh Itachi?"

Hey Y'all!

I am angry. I hate Internet Explorer. I'm so used to Chrome, with the first option always being "Open in New Tab," that I subconsciously repeated my usual procedures with Internet Explorer. Unfortunately, the first option for Explorer is "Open." So when I tried to open a new tab in Explorer, I accidently opened the link on the same tab that I was editing my work! Now I'm too lazy to go back and reedit my work again, so I did some minor edits and called it a day. I may or may not get back to full edits of this story, I am not too certain.

What I am certain of though, is my willingness and desire to continue.

Yes, that's right. Starting today, I'll be working on my fan fiction everyday again. I really enjoyed this chapter when reading over it, and I thought I did a fantastic job on characterization. I usually don't praise my own work, but I was really proud of the way the chapter went and am pretty antsy about working on the next few.

On that note, I have an earnest question. Does anyone who read my fan fiction have artistic talent? I'm looking for a talented artist to create a unique cover page for my fan fiction. I am willing and able to pay for services rendered, granted that the cover page meets my expectations. Anyone who is interested, please PM me with a link to a sample of your work. Preference is giving to those who match Fujishima Kosuke's style (he is the primary artist for the Tales of) series.

Update on story stats: 44 Reviews, 40 Favorites, 52 Followers, 1 Communities, and 6,453 Hits. WE BROKE 50 FOLLOWERS! Thank you all so very much for helping me hit this major milestone, and I pray that you stick with me in the weeks and months to come.

Once again, until next week.

-Blackrazgriz 5/21/2014 10:51AM EST

NOTE (5/24/2014 4:20M EST): This is a response to a reviewer question. In my story, graduation exams occur once every year. According to canon, Naruto had failed the graduation exam 3 times in a row. As such, Naruto is Suzu's (and everyone else's) senpai by 2 years. The third time was when he joined everyone's class.