"Amazing how fast you're handling this Kurosaki. I hoped your chakra control was this good. You can even heal yourself without forming hand signs. Something the likes of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha could do". Kurosaki thought of Madara immediately. "Hashirama the first Hokage was also your grandfather right"? "He was". "Listen Lady Hokage once I get my training done I plan to leave immediately. My family weren't exactly aware of me being here". Tsunade nodded but she was already well aware of this. The platoon's she sent out confirmed as much. "I see but I assumed it was something like that".
"Forgive me as it wasn't something I should have left out upon coming here. But also not something I felt explicitly needed to be shared. It was important to me to receive this training. No one from my adopted family could teach me. Truthfully I didn't know anyone at all that could apart from you. I can guarantee my motives are completely pure. I would never betray the trust of a village I still love so deeply from my time here". She didn't know that she should have said all that. She wasn't guilty. Though her emotions made her feel guilty. She still left out the details of one Itachi Uchiha her secret boyfriend.
That however would stay secret. It was the only way to protect them both and their relationship. Kurosaki had enjoyed her visit but she couldn't wait to see Itachi once more. She couldn't wait to see him again. To touch him and hear his voice and know he was safe. Kurosaki loved to think she could protect him in some way. The truth was, she was rather powerless to protect him at all. While it seemed he protected her just by existing. How would she live without him? It kept coming back to her over and over again. She needed to be with him more. Show him how much she truly loved him.
A few days later she had completed her training and prepared to leave. She was eager to show Itachi what she could now do. She wished she could have seen Naruto one last time before she left. But she knew he must be very busy. "Thank you Lady Hokage for everything". "Of course now take care of yourself and good luck". Kurosaki headed on her way not sure where she was going next. Only that in the next few days she would be reunited with Itachi soon. Tsunade watched her leave as Kakashi appeared beside her.
"I believe her motives were pure but something was off". "Yeah it though so too. Very suspicious. But I don't believe it was a bad off". "I agree it didn't seem like it. Perhaps will find out soon. Maybe she will come to visit again one day". "Yeah maybe so". Kurosaki frowned as her stomach growled. Leave it to her to forget to eat. It was pointless to go back to the village and time consuming. Not to mention she would look like an idiot. She would just have to find somewhere else to eat. Three men stepped in front of her.
"Excuse me I'm trying to get by". Kurosaki said rather annoyed. Normally she would try to politely diffuse the situation. But as hungry as she was she just didn't feel like it today. "You are going to give us all you have". One of the men demanded. "I apologize but I really don't have anything. I am starving myself right now". Kurosaki would normally be very afraid. But she was calm right now. Because she knew these men could not cause her any harm though they wanted to. "With clothes as nice as yours you obviously have something. I am going to make you regret lying to us. The three men advanced on her and she sighed. She took them all down in a matter of minutes using Itachi's taijutsu training.
"The training really did work out". Kurosaki turned in surprise. "Itachi". "Come on were still very close to the village. Let's get out of here". Kurosaki nodded and followed him. "How in the world did you know I was here"? "Word travels around. A random visitor to a tea shop was talking about seeing you in the leaf. I wondered why you were there. I assume it was more than just a visit" he said grinning. She smiled back. "Yes it is. I went to meet with the Hokage and she taught me medical ninjutsu". Itachi nodded approvingly.
"So I assume Tsunade really must be the Hokage then"? "Yes that's right. I worried they might suspect something but I told them pretty much everything about my visit". She frowned wishing she could have told Tsunade about Itachi. "They probably did suspect something. I would guess they had someone watching over you to make sure you weren't planning anything else". "You think"? "Most likely. Probably not anbu but someone high up was probably trailing you from a distance". "I did see Kakashi Hatake". Itachi nodded. "He was probably trailing you". "Hope I didn't do anything to make him suspect me".
"You didn't do anything wrong and you told the truth". "Yeah I know". "You were worried they might find out about us". Kurosaki looked up but Itachi was smiling. She felt so dirty about that. "Itachi it's not because of you. It's well you know". "Don't worry Kurosaki I know. I can't talk about you freely either though I would like too. For our own personal safety we can't allow those to know of our connection. Though I feel strongly Gito knows". "You think he would just forget"? She asked weakly. "I doubt it. I saw him on a mission". "You saw him"?! Kurosaki looked at him in shock. "Yes I did and he got away.
My partner Kisame and I were trailing him. He is an enemy of the Akatsuki so all the members know to kill them if they see him. He is very hard to catch". "Think you could catch him"? "I could no problem. I would say any in the Akatsuki could. But we have so many other things were trying to get done right now. We couldn't possibly focus all our time and energy on him. This is the time and energy we need to catch him". "I understand that". "Trust me if it were up to me we would put that all aside and take care of him now. I don't like that there's someone out there who wants to cause harm to you".
"Do you want to kill him"? She looked at him and he showed no emotion. "Hating him would do be no good. If he could be stopped without being killed I wouldn't kill him. That isn't the case however. He must be killed. When it comes down to it your safety means everything to me. If I could find a way to stop him without killing him I would. Honesty I probably could. The other Akatsuki members have spoken. They do desire his death. Not only that but it is our orders. It wouldn't bother me if one of the others were able to kill him. Unfortunately I can't count on that and neither should you".
Kurosaki looked at him questionably. "It's probably not safe for you to travel anymore. Not knowing where Gito might be or if he is actively looking for you or not. I would personally feel better if you stayed in once place". "Wouldn't that be less safe though? It would be easier to find me if I were in one place". "Perhaps but if you were in a place he had no knowledge of you would be safe". "You have a place in mind"? "I do and I would like to show it you. Also there is something I want to ask you". "Okay what is it"? "I will ask you when we get there. It really can only be asked then". "Okay very well then".
"Did you enjoy your visit in the leaf"? "I did and I missed it very much". "So do I.I wish I could return full time to live there". "It would be nice if I could as well. It's changed but it's also the same. I would love to spend my life there. Marry and raise children there if that were a possibility for me". "Who says it's not"? Itachi asked. "It would have to be with the right person" she answered. He nodded. "I understand". They walked in silence for a few minutes. "Kurosaki get back" Itachi instructed. "What is it"? "A team of leaf ninja. They don't need to see you with me and they definitely don't need to see me".
He led her behind a tree where the watched the team pass. "Alright were safe now. We can continue". Kurosaki nodded and they continued walking again. "Where is this place were going to? I assume were going to it right now"? "Yes and it's far from any of the shinobi villages. It's the place that will offer you the most safety". She smiled as he was always looking out for her safety. Yet she couldn't really do anything to watch out for his safety. No just not saying anything was a way for her to protect him. How did she get so lucky in having him? Even if they couldn't be together for a long time. At least she had been loved by him at all. Where was he taking her? What would she see there next? With Itachi it was always about the greater good, peace, and his love for her. Yes she loved him too more and more.
Could she even say her love for him was frightening? Her devotion to him was strong. Her desire to protect him was strong. She had to stop herself from taking him and just kissing him. Her desire to be with him right now was strong. Itachi turned to her. "Were safe for now". Then he took her in his arms and kissed her. She allowed him to take her without a fight. Right here in the woods wasn't even a problem. She would never fight him. He could have her and do absolutely whatever he wanted.