Author's note: So these next few chapters will be Akina in the village, and yadda-yadda-yadda -_- u know how it goes, but if you didn't notice what I'm foreshadowing for Itachi and Akina, you better go back and read, my friends. Also, hate to give a spoiler, but Akina's meeting Sakura in this chapter and… personally sometimes I like Sakura and others, not so much. I like her when she's not all goo-goo over Sasuke (which ain't often, sorry) I loved her when she cut her hair, that was wicked cool… but please read on. ^_^

Chapter's song: "Pictures of you" by The Last Goodnight

Chapter 21
Home is where the heart is

Arrival at Leaf gate
Once Ringo and Kaede seen the Leaf's main gate, the little sister tagged Ringo and then went running down the hill. "Race ya!"

"Hey, no fair!" Ringo shouted to then start running after the little girl with bobbed jet-black hair in little red bows and just as dark eyes. Akina just kept her steady pace, smiling, watching the kids run through the gate, grasping Izumo and Kotesu's full attention. "What the…" Izumo exclaimed watching the children run past their desk. He continued watching them run off through the village— and Kotesu to look to Akina approaching the gate, to this, he tapped Izumo's shoulder and then smirked, "That the…"

"Huh?" Izumo looked to see Akina stop to look around the village and then to the boys with those brilliant green eyes.

"We got to stop meeting like this… how you boys been?"

"Great… yourself?"

"It's been a while." Izumo would breath.

"It has… this place seems to have magnetized me, huh?"

"Well, it is your home."

"It is…" Akina's attention then went to men carving into the mountainside images, to form Tsunade's face being added. "I see they're adding Lady Tsunade to the mountain side images."

"Yeah… you weren't here were you, when she became Hokage?" Izumo ask.

"No… I'll have to stop in and give my apologies."

Hokage's place
Genma, Aoba and Raido stood outside the Hokage's gate to see— Mochizuki Akina coming their way. "Is that?" Raido asked.

Aoba tipped his glasses down and then pushed them back up to his eyes. "No way."

"Way… I'd recognize those eyes anywhere." Genma answered to take his senbon out of his mouth.

"Well, thank you…" Akina said to stop and cross her arms. "You boys are living the good life… protecting the Hokage and all."

"Well, someone has to do it" Raido stated.

"It's not easy though… Lady Tsunade is a willful one." Genma added putting his senbon back in to start to add, "Just like you— um…"

"Watch it, Genma." Aoba warned.

Akina closed her eyes. "You can say it… just like me." she then giggled. Why was she so happy?

"Sorry."

She shrugged. "I know I'm a handful… would you boys mind if I took Lady Hokage off your hands?"

"Uh no… but?" Aoba asked to watch Akina continue in, passing the men anyway.

"Don't worry I'll take good care of her."

Tsunade's office
Tsunade attended to the paperwork as Shizune plopped the high piles on her desk, but then saved to hear knock-knock. "Who is it?"

Akina didn't answer, to jut walk in when Shizune looked to the woman with wonder. I've never seen her before? Tsunade wasn't exactly wondering that when Akina approached explaining, "Me, milady… you probably don't recognize me, but—" Akina then opened her eyes, to have Tsunade spring from her seat.

"Akina!" Tsunade addressed happily to only have Shizune squeal in shock, her eyes going round and white. Tsunade then went around the desk to stand in front of Akina. "You look like your mother… man? Jiraiya jawed about you, but I never imagined that—"

"Lady Tsunade?" Shizune scolded.

Akina shook her hand. "No, no, it's all right. Uh… Shizune, right?"

Said woman nodded. "Nice to see you again."

"Yeah… nice to see you. Say, you wouldn't mind if I had a word alone with Lady Hokage, would you?"

Shizune attention rose, but then headed for the door, first picking up Tonton. "No, of course not."

Once Shizune was gone to shut the door behind her, Tsunade went back to sit in her chair. "You we're never one to talk… or not say something just because someone is in the room. Why so secretive?"

"Well, I figured Shizune wouldn't want to join us."

"Join us?" Tsunade peeked up in suspicion.

Bar
The two women sat at the bar, Tsunade gulping down a shot of saké. Akina enjoying hers slowly, she would have to enjoy it, after this she would have to quiet again, for trying for another baby. It had been forever since she had a drink— since she found out she was pregnant. But this drink was much different from all the others she had had; this one was just to get a drink, not get drunk; for at this point in time, she was happy— and to be home— be missing Itachi. "May I ask you a question, milady?"

"What is it?" Tsunade asked to poor more saké into her small porcelain cup.

"Any luck on proofing your ideals?"

Tsunade sat her glass back down to the bar, to a give a long sigh. "I'm afraid not… the old buzzards still out number me." Akina sipped her saké to have Tsunade continue, "Still though… that didn't stop you. It's an honor to sit next to a legacy, heh-heh. Getting medical into ANBU?"

Akina closed her green eye. "Please ma'am, you're of much more worth than I."

"Don't pretend to swallow your pride just for my sake of being Hokage! Well, only one way to settle this…"

The ebony-haired one looked to the blonde woman with suspicion. "I knew I shouldn't have gotten a drink this early." Akina added to then look into her already empty glass.

"Oh no, not a battle… I know that's not your style. But you're a women of adventure… whattaya say to a challenge?"

"I'm listening."

"I've taken on a student… Haruno Sakura, and I've just about come to be finished with her training, except for the… truth to healing jutsu. But Sakura also has had me take on a friend of hers, so I have to see to her individual training—"

"And since I'm the only other one who really knows that secret or how you so-called put it… you want me to see if I can teach her?"

"You're as sharp as a tack as ever… whattaya say?"

"The challenge is not the teachings… but the bet the you'll make on the girl, hm?"

"So you won't do it?"

"Oh no I'm in." Akina said to be ordering another round of drinks with a curl of her finger to the bartender. "She was trained by Kakashi and a comrade of Sasuke's… this will be interesting. You wouldn't have anything else in mind would you, milady?"

"Maybe?" The way Tsunade said it, guilty to raise her glass to her painted peach lips. "She's got a lot of questions, Akina… and you're the one who always has an answer." Akina made a chuckle to laugh off Tsunade's comment. Then why can't I answer my own questions?

Hospital
Sakura focused on heeling a fish, in the library part of the hospital chambers. Akina quietly came in to not be noticed by Sakura, the older woman remaining in the doorway. Akina watched her; to then see the fish begin floppy amongst the table. "I did it… I did it!"

Akina then lightly began clapping her hands— Sakura was surprised and stumbled back into the water— splash! "Oof."

Green eyes had a look of oppose, to then begin walking towards Sakura, her hips swaying and clogs tapping. "Didn't mean to sneak up on you, love." With that said, Akina placed her hand out to help the girl out of the tub.

As she did, Sakura stood and seen, to say, "You're that Lady from the Chunin exams?"

Akina just gazed over the girl, as the pink-haired one gazed over the green-eyed woman. She then walked away, not replying to look around the room. To think this is where Master Yutaka trained me… I put a lot of blood and sweat on these floors. Akina approached a bookshelf, to weasel a book from it, a dusty book snug between all the others— to open it and flip through the pages, finding his photo of squad five. Akina smirked, To think we ever that young?

Sakura stayed quiet, just watching, gazing at Mochizuki's crest on her back. She's so mysterious and beautiful… she seems as if she knows this place well? Even though Sakura thought this, she then went asking, "Um, ma'am… can I help you with anything at all?"

"On the contrary… I'm here to help you."

"Help me?"

Akina slid the book back in place, but taking a picture of just her and Yutaka from it and turning to hold it out to show Sakura. "Do you know who this man is?"

Sakura was nothing but confused by this woman. "That's the prior chief of the medical corp."

"Correct… do you know who the girl with him is?"

"His student…"

Akina sighed. "Correct… but her name?"

"She brought medical into ANBU… went by the analysis The Black Rose of Konoha."

"Correct…" Akina paused to then brag, "I did."

Sakura looked in shock. "Y-you did… that's you?"

Akina slipped the picture into her sleeve. "It's seems I've stayed away so long that the newest generation only know my legacy and not the woman who made it?"

The girl sheepishly grinned. "I'm so sorry… it's an honor to meet you. I've read all your stories and what've you've done… you're an inspirational kunoichi."

"Well thank you, love." Akina then made her way to a puffy chair to plop in and cross her legs. "Now enough about me… let's talk about you. So you've decided to become a medical ninja… may I ask why?"

Sakura clutched her fist it happiness and determination. "I want to become stronger… I want to protect those who tried to protect me for all of my prior years."

"Sasuke and Naruto?" Sakura nodded. To then have Akina sigh, "All right, good enough for me. Now, I'm not one who likes taking slow progression so you'll have to be a quick study."

"Yes, ma'am!" Sakura stood tall. Having Akina stand and walk over to the pool, and to then pull out a fish in a bubble of water, using her telekinesis to Sakura's amazement. Pop-plop— the bubble and fish hit the table. The bubble popping and the fish began flopping amongst it.

Akina then placed her hand over the fish, a hand surrounding in chakra that Sakura would assume to be healing, but the fish was alive? You were suppose to take a dead fish and bring it back, not— but when the flopping came to a halt, Sakura's eyes went filling with aghast. D-did she just kill it?

Akina turned away, leaving the dead fish on the table, Sakura studying the woman's indecipherable face, as she made her way past the pink-haired girl, back to her seat. Akina's boots tapped all the way, back to the couch, Sakura listening, and not to dare look into the woman's eyes. Once Sakura heard Akina sit and everything stayed awkwardly quiet, Akina broke, "Well, what you waiting for?"

Sakura then dared to look at Akina's green gaze. "Pardon?"

The Mochizuki Princess hated repeating herself, but nonetheless not showing it, to repeat, "What are you waiting for?"

"Y-you want me to do what you just did?"

Akina kept a fierce look. "No, I want you to sit back and relax with me, have a cup of tea." Sakura looked bemused until Akina went on, "You're not going to get stronger with hesitation… when you're on the battlefield, hesitation can be an ally… but it also can be your worst enemy. Your own worst enemy."

"I know this… but…"

"But what?"

"To kill the fish?"

"It's not about what it is… if that fish would've been your comrade killed by the enemy, you don't just stand there."

"So then shouldn't I be attacking you then, ma'am?"

Akina then mewed, getting satisfaction out of the lack of Sakura's fear. "Love, if you tried attacking me… you'd end up like that fish." Akina crossed her legs to lay her elbows low in her lap. "Let's say I'm tagging in that other live fish as your new opponent, kay?"

Sakura looked to the tub, then back to Akina. "But I don't know how to do anything of what you did? How do I pull the fish out of the water like you did?"

"You don't… that jutsu is mine and mine alone. You have hands don't you?"

The fifteen-year-old then just went over to the tub, watching her reflection and the defenseless fish swim around with no worry, until Sakura realized this would be the fish she would kill.

Akina keened her eyes, lifting her hand to perform her telekinesis to Sakura's hesitation— Sakura quickly let out a squeal, having the fish come eye-to-eye with her, kept in a bubble of water. Sakura looked back at Akina, posing her hand, to then form it into a fist and having Sakura hear the bubble pop, the fish flopping along the table next to the dead one.

"I know what you're thinking…" Akina's incoherent smooth voice implied. "Ask me out loud?"

Sakura looked to the woman, trying not to show the fear she held for her. Can she really read my thoughts?

Akina stood and began walking to Sakura. "Yes… only the weak mind and that's why I'm here."

The girl didn't take the insult into consideration. "Um, I wanted to ask… why did you want to become a medical ninja, Milady?"

"If you can do this jutsu, you'll understand… and I'll tell you."

Sakura keened her eyes to the fish, almost lifeless, but still flopping. "So how do I do this jutsu exactly?"

"You've learned mostly all the healing techniques, right?" Sakura lowered her chin a fraction, Akina continuing, "It's hard to imagine… but this is also considered medical, but on the defense side category."

"Defense category?"

"You've heard of the medical scalpel, right?"

"Yeah… it's when a ninja uses their chakra to separate or paralyze the muscles."

"Have you learned to do this?"

"Yes, but what does that have to with this?"

"Why are you still waiting around?"

Sakura had this woman do nothing but embarrass her, all her smarts put to shame. "You lost me again, Madam?"

"What did I do to that fish?"

"I'm not entirely sure… you seemed to have stopped his heart—" It then dawned on Sakura. "T-the heart is a muscle…" Akina then looked to the fish, getting Sakura also to glance and turn to do her hand signs. Akina watched as Sakura struggled to go in for the kill, to place her chakra hand to it, but once Akina seen Sakura go for it anyway, at the last moment— Akina grabbed Sakura's wrist!

Sakura shifted her eyes to glance out to Akina, looking at her green eyes, having that woman sigh in their look. "I wasn't planning to ever repeat these words to anyone but my Master… but? I want to heal one man for every one I kill." With that said, Akina let go of Sakura's wrist and headed for the door. Her job was done.

"What about the jutsu?"

Akina stopped, and stayed standing, not even turning back as she explained, "You know how to do it, right? You were just going to take that creatures life, but you hesitated…"

"I know… I'm sorry."

"Sorry? I'm not… you passed." Akina turned around with an infinitesimal smile.

"I passed… but—"

"But what?" Akina crossed her arms sternly. "Love, you could have kill that fish right from the start and didn't even know you could… and when you found out that you had the power, you still hesitated to kill it. That's because, just because you could kill it, doesn't mean you should. We've lost a lot of ninja to this world because they become bloodthirsty for power to kill others… so you pass. You'll be a great healer, a fine kunoichi as long as you learn to heal your friend and harm your foe. That fish was your friend I assume?" Sakura smiled to see the fish be placed back in the water by this woman's telekinesis.

But then she'd look back to the older woman, who was once again roaming the chamber. To go to and open a draw, she knew exactly where she was going, and what she was looking for. Akina pulled out a frame that was covered in tan dust that made it unfeasible to see the picture. Akina was distracted to look when Sakura came to her side, bowing. "Thank you, Akina-sama, your… profound teachings, have taught be a great deal."

Akina ignored the girl, to look back at the frame, taking her sleeve to wipe away the dust, revealing squad five's picture. Sakura looked bemused to stare at Itachi in question to who he was? Akina noticed this, hiding her smile and then setting the picture on the desk, to only turn away towards the exit. "Thank you, Sakura."

Said girl snapped from her trance on the boy. "For what?"

"For letting me teach you." With that, Akina was then gone, to turn the corner out. Sakura looked back to the picture, looking to Akina's master, chief of the medical corp. and Akina when she was only about seven. That's Lady Akina and her squad… and that boy, looks like Sasuke?

Akina walked down the hall, eyes closing and her hands being placed in her sleeves as she waited, to count down, "4, 3, 2… and—"

"Wait?" Akina stopped to the sound of Sakura desperate yell. She then caught up to Akina's back, also catching her breath— Akina not turning to look on the girl that stopped her. "Lady Akina… that boy in the picture… is that Uchiha Itachi?"

And she mentioned that name. "What if he is, love?"

"Please, if you can tell me anything about him and Sasuke… please, I need to save Sasuke."

"Save Sasuke huh… tell me, Sakura, have you decided…"

"Decided what?"

Akina turned around to face the younger girl. "Whether if Sasuke is your friend or foe?" Sakura looked in shock, eyes going back in their sockets, but she grinded her teeth also, having Akina add, "Sasuke would have killed that fish."

Then the woman had nothing else to say, and Sakura was holding back her tongue. With that, Akina would turn her cold back once again, to begin waking away. "HOW DO YOU KNOW… DID YOU KNOW HIM… WERE YOU HIS BELOVED COMRADE?" Sakura would be on the brink of crying if it wasn't for her anger. Akina turned quick to Sakura's disrespectful shouting, a swiftly sliding foot to be heard— the girl taking a few stumbles back to assure distance. "Oh, forgive me."

"No, I wasn't his comrade… but I was his brothers, and I know the violent streak that runs through the Uchiha veins." Akina turned to proceed walking down the hall.

"Would you stop walking away!"

"Funny, that's the same thing I said."

Sakura looked confused, finally figuring she was talking about Itachi. Akina kept walking, until she'd raise her hand to signal Sakura to follow. "Can you walk and talk at the same time, love… I have the answers you seek. You just got to ask questions. You need not to be so hesitant… don't worry, I'm a friend." Sakura didn't know if that was true, she didn't know much, all she knew was that this woman knew more than she did.

Back roads of the village
Akina and Sakura walked down a path through a field, heading the long way back to the Hokages, but only Akina knew that, Sakura just following and had been staying quiet the whole time out here. I didn't expect her to be so silent? Akina thought to glance to Sakura, thinking it too soon as she seen Sakura open her mouth to speak. "First question… where are we going?"

"You'll see."

Sakura quietly sighed, showing it more on her face. She has answers all right… but they don't get me an answer I want. She moaned in her thoughts, to have Akina smile, Sakura not seeing it as the woman then replied, "We always don't get what we want, love."

She became tense, to freeze in fear. "Oh my…! I'm so sorry."

Akina giggled inside, to then stop and turn back to the young kunoichi. "Don't worry… I'm the one who should be sorry, I need to learn to stay out of people's thoughts."

Sakura watched when Akina stopped, now noticing that they came to a rose garden that was unbelievable. "Wow?" Sakura gasped.

"Does this answer your question… these rose bushes have been here for over a hundred years. Every path a different color, all leading in different directions… that one to Konoha beach and this one to the Hokage's place." Akina then took the latter.

"But, if you wanted to go to the Hokage's… why not just take the main road? It's quicker."

"I've always preferred the journey over the destination… you'll never reach the end of the road traveling with a kunoichi like me."

"A kunoichi like you?"

Akina frowned; she knew the girl wanted a further explanation. "One who would put her life on the line for a loved one…"

Sakura felt relief. "That's great."

"I'd also put my life on the line for a stranger." Sakura was then utterly confused again, having Akina go on, "Though if I had any loved ones or new any strangers… I woulda been dead a long time ago."

"Your Master, he died in Orochimaru's attack… I'm very sorry."

Akina didn't say anything, coming off as she didn't care, but she placed an ice wall around her heart, knowing Sakura would now dare to continue to pry. "You also lost Itachi when he left… can you tell me why Itachi betrayed the village and his clan?"

"I could…" Akina's ice smooth voice replied, she couldn't say anymore, she wouldn't say anymore.

Sakura once again moaned. Ugh… again with the vague answers.

The woman stopped. "I didn't expect I'd have to ever give my autobiography." Sakura was again confused, but Akina came up with a way to get by. "Itachi was one— a man who wouldn't kill that fish, he wouldn't kill a mere fly… but, when you're surrounded by people who would kill any living thing, what do you expect to happen? My squad… squad five became my only family, although I treated them as badly and as coldly as I treat you… but they— we loved each other anyway."

"So what happened?"

"Life." Akina silently sigh. "After Itachi got hold of the Mangekyo Sharingan he gained from Shisui, he went and killed the rest of the clan. I tried to stop him afterwards, but the battle came to a bloody tie… when I woke… Itachi was long gone."

"Did you ever consider going after him?"

"Consider, yes… do it, no." Akina then paused, dreading and waiting for Sakura to ask another question. "He made his decision… and so did Sasuke."

Sakura froze in another grasp of her fist to correct, "HOLD ON A SEC… SASUKE'S NOT ITACHI… HE'S NOT THINKING STRAIGHT… HE NEEDS ME… OROCHIMARU IS TAUNTING HIM WITH POWER SO HE CAN KILL ITACHI!"

Akina stared with almost pity for this girl. "Kill Itachi…? Well then, that proves he's not thinking straight." Sakura calmed herself, listening to the wise woman. "Me and Itachi are of equal power… and you and Sasuke are about the same, right?" Akina turned and stepped in front of Sakura, standing off with the younger kunoichi. "So Sasuke's chances are the same as yours if you tried and kill me here and now. Go on and try it."

Sakura stare into the brilliant shades of the green eyes, freezing at the sight, aghast in her position. "Huh… still to hesitate." Akina coldly state— having Sakura flip a kunai into hand! Akina eyes shot keen— puffing into petals, to blow by Sakura's hand, the wind stanching the kunai, having Akina reform at Sakura's back, holding the knife over the girl's shoulder, to place directly over Sakura's heart. The young kunoichi eyes peered over her shoulder, glancing at the heartless woman that could kill her. She wouldn't kill me… would she?

Akina leant down, to place her words into Sakura's ear. "You know something… I can't read your mind anymore."

"But you said you can read the weak minds?" Sakura controlled her shuttering.

"Yes I did… so answer that question for yourself."

Sakura smiled, disregarding the kunai still held over her heart. But when Akina pulled it back, to flip into her own holster and begin walking away again. Sakura watched her, placing her fist over her heart. Thank you… for everything. Sakura couldn't bring herself to speak, nonetheless say it out loud.

You're welcome. Akina had lied, just to give this girl confidence. I really have gotten soft. Akina then breathed, "Come on, love, let's report in."

Hokage's office
Akina knocked on the door, to then enter right away— Tsunade looking up bummed to what was coming. "Okay… where's the saké?"

"Huh… don't tell me I lost?"

The Mochizuki crossed her arms, standing in front of Tsunade's desk with more weight placed on her right hip. "Okay, then I won't… but ma'am…?"

"What?" Tsunade whined in her growl.

Akina then arrogantly whispered, "You didn't win."

Sakura eyes went back and forth between the older women. "Wait, Lady Tsunade … you betted on me?"

Tsunade chuckled sheepishly. "Well uh…"

"So who betted I couldn't do it?"

Akina gaze went directly to Tsunade. "Don't look at your Hokage with those green vixen eyes… I'll send you back a rank!"

"Wouldn't be the first time." The "chunin" would mumble, it wasn't spiteful, but the ex-anbu then sat when a vine chair formed underneath her.

Tsunade just stared and then forced and placed her attention on Sakura. "Anyway… I'm sorry, Sakura, but you see I didn't think Akina would go so easy on you."

"She went easy?" Sakura asked baffled.

Tsunade's brown eyes went confused, back on Akina. "You did go easy didn't you?"

Akina didn't voice an answer, to raise her thumb and index finger, to show only a little space between them as they went close together. Tsunade sighed. "Well, I guess it doesn't matter… I'm actually glad I lost. Did she answer your questions, Sakura?"

"Yes, yes she did."

"Then I better pay up…" Tsunade pouted devilishly. Akina stood and went towards the door, waving her hand in a flapping motion. "Don't worry about it… I was just in it for the journey."

She then left into the hall, to only hear— "Lady Akina?" Sakura voice yelled, to sprint down the hall. Akina looked back to see Sakura stop and say, "Thank you."

The Mochizuki shook her head, just turning away. "Huh, oh you're welcome… again."

Sakura smiled to watch that kunoichi walk away, but then Sakura thought back confused to what Akina said. Again?