Before I began this chapter, I was doing the last couple new chapters of The Ronin and the Emperor's Daughter (still yet to be put up). I also had to try and think about what to do with Itachi and Sasuke now that the brothers reunited, since we ARE reaching the end. Time to close the ends.

Chapter Twenty-One

The Detective Work Begins

To be at the fan festival of all places, on his birthday - he had no idea whether or not to say if it were truly real, or if he was asleep and would just wake up from a dream.

To find out he was a reincarnation of the last Uchiha who took his own life in disgrace - and because his brother gave his life for HIM - was one thing, but to find his blood brother in this life was another. He wasn't sure if he could call this a case of identity crisis when he was finally coming to terms and was handling this better than anything he had in his life. The Hyuuga were all he'd known, and this wasn't going to change anything.

Was this what closure felt like?

How could he easily have fallen into Itachi's embrace as if they'd never been strangers - fate in the blood, withstanding the test of time - and cried without shame, without a care that someone could be watching? And to hear those words which he had waited to hear, without ever knowing it would have come to this: "I waited my whole life to see you. I crossed thousands of miles just to..."

"It-Itachi," he remembered croaking. "My brother...you're here."

"Yes, I am," the elder breathed back. "I wanted to see you again for so long I couldn't bear to be away anymore. All my dreams of imagining what you would look like - and by the gods, you've grown up! - and to just be your brother again. After everything I gave up so you could live in another life. We had been apart for so long..." Itachi's embrace had increased to the point of smothering him and making Sasuke sharply exhale; he thought he wasn't going to breathe if he kept this up!

"But, brother," Sasuke said, taking a few breaths to calm himself down, "why did life have to keep us apart like this? Why did..." If Itachi had been forced to end his own life just so HE could live, why did it have to be like that? And who made him do it? Whoever it was, they are long gone, so I can't even have revenge if I wanted to.

His brother looked him square in the eyes when he answered. "I wished the outcome was different, Sasuke. I gave everything up in exchange for you to live. I loved you even more than I did the rest of our clan." Then his eyes darkened.

"The one responsible for my death is alive in this life - at least, a descendant. He's someone I know I have to handle myself."

~o~

Tsunade couldn't remember the last time Sasuke Hyuuga ever set foot in her museum, but for as long as it had been, when they were all kids, she saw Hinata's brother only once or twice; he'd never been really fascinated with history unless it was something that really interested him.

Her bubble burst when Sakura told her that she'd been dumped by this young man, as well as the story behind it - but here she was hearing a story that shook the foundation they stood on. It's long been possible we all lived a past life, but seldom do we find out. We go all our lives without ever knowing.

Yet here Sasuke was, with Sakura on his left and Itachi on the right, both siding with him as he broke the ice that he was a reincarnate of the last member of the Uchiha samurai - correction, he was Sasuke Uchiha, the survivor who was left an orphan and grew up as a servant in the Hyuuga household, then became a ronin until he took his own life in disgrace upon learning what happened to his older brother...Itachi.

A rebirth of the youngest grandson of Madara Uchiha, and his brother ITACHI sacrificed himself by mummifying himself, and that was all he knew...which meant that it was no coincidence that he was here at this museum, when the very same mummy was missing. Her suspicions began to be on the rise, but she was never one to outright accuse without solid proof.

She wasted no time halting him there and picking up the phone to call Orochimaru from his lab. He needed to listen to this, and when he came, he simply stood against the wall because there was no other place for him.

"It's a pity you can't give information on your side, Sasuke," he said, licking his lips and then looking up at the ceiling as if deep in thought. "We would have had the Uchiha history to transgress the boundaries of six hundred years."

Tsunade looked down at the surface of her desk, avoiding even looking at the remaining sticks of her green tea dumplings she'd been enjoying before these three in front of her came in. No one knows who Sasuke's family was before he was adopted, but in his past life, he was treated cruelly after losing the one that loved him - but his brother was the greatest star in his sky. And here they are again...

Could life had gotten much stranger than that?

Something inside her brain clicked. She looked Itachi square in the eyes and had to ask him what was on her mind: were the Uchiha really like any other samurai clan, and was the information we have all there was?

To all their surprise, he gave it all easily. "Yes, they were. It's all true they were touted for their prowess, were feared as much as your family was. But that's not all: they loved each other very deeply, much more than many gave them credit for. And while it was said in the books that no one knows what became of them in the end, the truth is much darker."

Sakura shifted in her seat, eyes wide like an eager child hungry for more. "What was that?" she asked. Itachi looked straight back at Tsunade with his answer.

What he said made her fight back turning into a flood in her own chair, but the impact must have been worse on both Sasuke and Sakura who had no words to explain.

"The orchestrator was the Shimura general, ruler of the village. He hired us Uchiha to pit against the Senju. I was a warrior at a young age, having seen relatives and friends die before my eyes, when I never should have. I even killed a man out of defense for the first time when I was only four years old; it was something that I never wanted for my brother, so that was why I stood before both clans - my own and yours, Tsunade. Your great-great-grandfather and Madara witnessed, and it amused them to see a twelve-year-old boy being the peacekeeper...but I was naïve and foolish. I thought I'd seen it all when the old men couldn't do it themselves. I never saw it coming until it was too late that the shogun wanted to end it his way, no matter what it took or how it looked."

"I don't savor where this is going," Orochimaru murmured, shaking his head.

"The Uchiha even planned to break free, but Shimura wanted it done when the curtains were drawn and the skies black. I was the one he thought he could manipulate because he saw me not like the rest of my people - except I couldn't exterminate them all by myself," Itachi said, his voice monotoned.

The Senju curator didn't like this, at all, but it was an understatement. She was livid to her bones. The Uchiha were butchered late one night, not by her own people, but by Danzo's. And all because of failed peace negotiations; her great-great-grandfather must have been appalled, if she knew better! And a twelve-year-old child to be tasked with an abominable mission - but he said he had help. "Who assisted?" Tsunade demanded, unable to hold it back.

"He had ninjas at his disposal. It happened in an unmarked period of time, ending when the hours were still dark. My brother was spared, but I never saw him when it was all over." He closed his eyes and bowed his head as if remembering the terrible event that transpired next. "I had to kill my own parents while they were asleep."

How cruel, being made to murder your own family but spare your brother who ended up in a fate worse than death.

Itachi concluded the bone-chilling, bloodcurdling tale with this: "The shogun told me if I didn't want to be revealed to the world - as a price to be paid while the bodies of my clan were disposed of - then I had no choice but to take a path that would lead me to the heavens...and you know what that means."

Their worlds shook then and there even though they knew what it was leading to: Itachi was the - no, a reincarnate of the missing mummy Dan gave his life to find. And here he and his brother were, reunited in this age.

On Tsunade's mind was the memory of the preserved tears on the mummy's face, pointing to theories that he thought of someone he loved, a minute before he died, and here it was presented from the mouth of the one who had just exposed the dark truth about a lost civilization.

His last thoughts before his murder - death by suffocation and sake; Orochimaru was right - were of his brother whom he would never see again, who he gave his life for.

If only she could say the mystery was over, but it never was tied at the ends. There was another man who had his side of the story, and it was the one they all hated most in the world, the one who descended from the family of Itachi's murderer: the rat snake currently in police custody and suspected of the robbery at HER museum.

Tsunade gritted her teeth. If Danzo's ancestor used Itachi, then killed him himself, then he is responsible today as back then. Some things in the family never learn from their mistakes.

~o~

"N-Naruto."

His fiancée could only look at him in shock when he was done speaking and said his name. Stunned because she had no idea what else to say. Opalescent eyes were wide with inconsolable shock before it morphed back into something akin to critique. "But this is - this just too frightening to be real!"

"I know!" he said, throwing his hands into the air. They were supposed to be looking over the random pieces that had been brought in from a competitor, having once been old pottery vases from the Edo era, when he decided now or never to tell her that he'd looked at the photographs of the Uchiha Warrior mummy and finally saw the resemblance to Itachi, their new coworker and friend.

Sasuke's long-lost brother.

Sakura's roommate and new boyfriend. Except they never made it official, making him wonder now if they ever would. "Look, I know how crazy it sounds, and I only noticed that day old man Danzo was arrested. I've been meaning to look at the seal since it never occurred before, to see if anything would make sense, but damn it, Hinata, I know I am not imagining it."

"And better not say a word because they'll say you're crazy," she agreed, still as pale as a ghost. "Naruto, what do you think might come out of this if you're right and Itachi...is the mummy?"

He sighed sharply, scratching the back of his neck which never gave him any answers. "I don't know. I mean, this solidifies that Sakura is in trouble, but...I don't think he would have meant any harm. I've seen how they looked at each other, and that is enough to say how much he cares about her - just like I care about you, babe," he purred, leaning over and pecking her cheek. She giggled a couple times. Then it was back to being serious. "But bottom line: Itachi hasn't been any trouble, though he still gave us vague details about his past."

Even now, Itachi hadn't divulged more of his backstory while he was at Mt. Yudono...wait, that mummy also came from that place. Was that a coincidence or what?

Hinata looked down at the untouched pieces of ceramic. "You're right. But we both know that's his choice to tell us at the end of the day...oh, dear." Her eyes widened with realization. "Naruto, I just had a thought. Why don't we go talk to...?"

Not Granny, but Pervy Snake. She was right; if anyone could help them without assuming they were crazy, it would be him. Now would be a good time to ask him and then set a time to plan without getting suspicious eyes on them - especially Itachi.

Now that also meant talking to Dad and getting the facts on the cases, then compare what was known to whatever was on this cursed piece of ancient paper, since there was definitely writing on the other side of the Buddha's mantra. See if reality had really become so blurred with reverie.

~o~

When the day was over and they were at their apartment, Sakura was on the phone with Naruto's father, the chief of police. It regarded the subject of her missing mother, without a personal visit. There is a chance he will come eventually. After all, I was there with her...

It wouldn't be long before they would get into the house and search, find the body when all dead ends were met. They would comb every inch of Mebuki's home until they discovered her remains in the trunk. It also meant they would find HIS fingerprints, but they didn't have him in the database.

However, little did he know that would change.

"There is still no sign of her," Sakura told him when the call was over. "Car was found, house still locked, but no sign of her. Not even a hint as to where she went. I told him that we both saw her on the day of the funeral and the day before that which was when we arrived, but the next morning, she left that note. Plus, you and I went out that night while she took her sleeping pill, so she didn't hear us come back."

"What has the chief said?" Itachi asked, closing her laptop after pulling up the subject of DNA and fingerprints.

She shrugged and went into the kitchen for the vegetarian dish she was making them. "Confirmed it was her handwriting, so no sign of foul play, but they still don't know for sure. Could be that she was stopped by someone, or stopped herself, and ended up kidnapped?" She wouldn't stop the questions, and he loathed seeing her like this, knowing who was to blame.

Itachi stood up, deciding to do something for her, to take her mind off these things. "Listen, I'm going out to get us a bottle of sake, without getting us prone to a hangover in the morning," he told her, going over to kiss her forehead. "I know how random this is, but this is what I can do to make you calmer about this."

Sakura's eyes sparkled, agreeing easily to this.

A quick run down to the nearby liquor store when the sun was still shining, going down into jewel tones, wasn't a trouble, but he faced it as soon as he found himself in front of a familiar face. His back was against Sakura's car which she let him borrow. "You came. I knew you would."

Fuu Yamanaka...that was his name. A possible relative of Sakura's friend who died years ago. Still in his shroud and attempting to be menacing, choosing this public parking lot of all places to pull off his newest assassination attempt. "Ready to die, I see," the auburn-head answered. He hadn't yet unsheathed his blade, but Itachi was prepared. Right now would be words to exchange, because he himself had plenty to say.

"No."

"Why did I even ask that question? You're already dead - for six hundred years. But here you are, walking free and hidden in plain sight. It disgusts not only me, but my master."

Itachi leaned down to set the bottle of sake, wrapped up in its plastic bag, down on the ground beside him, keeping his eye on the other. "Your master whose ancestor took everything from me," he seethed, clenching his fists. "I was forced to kill my parents, abandoned my brother, and even still, he wanted more - your pathetic, weak master, wanted my life, so he took it."

There was a curling of the lips, followed by the shining reveal of the tantō, as well as: "Lord Danzo is not deserving of such disrespect. Especially not by walking dead maggots like you," he spat, setting the Uchiha's temper off with a fiery vengeance beneath his cool exterior.

"Nor is he deserving of another victory, depriving me of happiness. Not only have I found my brother...but I'm in love."

That short sword tilted in its owner's grasp as a sign of utter loathing. "You truly think this newfound joy will last," Fuu said, "with what you are - and what you do to innocent men and women so that you may live?"

The question struck Itachi home.

You're right. I do what I have to so I can live in this time...but only one was innocent; it wasn't my fault. The rest had what was coming to them. Just as you are soon going to have it. "Then come and do what your master is too cowardly to do himself," he challenged, and that provoked the response. His antagonist took a few slow, deliberate steps closer. "Come so I can do more than place my foot on your neck this time..."

The auburn-head lunged at him now, and Itachi struck with his eyes bleeding red, tomoe swirling into the pinwheel; he pulled the man into the worst form of paralyzing torture than he would have imagined beyond his years. The tantō fell from his grip, clattering loudly.

"Feel the agony of hundreds of your own blade piercing all your vital points, but not killing you. Forty-eight hours, but only an instant in this world..."

Itachi's voice was haunting to his own ears. When it was all over, Fuu fell to his knees, but found himself on the hood of Sakura's wagon, looking back up at the one he attempted to kill a second and final time - but here he was looking up at the face one last time as Itachi loomed over him. A hand latched behind the reddish brown head, keeping it firmly in place and making him wince at the pressure in his scalp. "This is my choice to make," Itachi hissed. "My right to happiness which was denied, and no one decides for me. Not you, not Danzo...and not even the gods."

He'd said the most blasphemous thing for the first time in both of his lives; no regrets which made his muscles and heart twist with pain.

Fuu barely had time to scream before Itachi's lips came to rest on his, softly but powerfully taking every living cell from his body into the other's, once again leaving behind a dried up husk with depthless black eyes, a mouth wide opened in a silent scream, and clumped, unkempt hair.

The raven stepped back by a few inches but kept the corpse in its place. He found himself looking at his new watch and swallowed as he realized how late he was going to be if he didn't get back to Sakura. She must be wondering what's keeping me.

So he went back to the apartment, after dropping the mummy off in a nearby dumpster - making sure no one was looking, sensing no one with his eyes - and with the sake bottle intact.

~o~

Minato let her know there was still nothing on her mother but swore they were still looking, and they also had their hands full as it was, counting Danzo who was still in custody. It seemed they would keep him in until they were satisfied with answers. It also wasn't like he didn't have a record as long as his own arm was.

Itachi wanted to cheer her up, or at least make her feel a little better for the while, but it wasn't going to yet be what they made a routine of doing at the end of each day of hard work, ever since coming back from visiting her mother. He'd gone out to get sake from the liquor store, and it'd been half an hour; she was finishing stirring the rice and had chopped up the vegetables to go on the skillet when she heard the door open. Itachi came back safely and with the bottle.

It felt so good to have him in her life in many forms: a roommate, a friend...and an amazing lover. Being there when she needed him, just as she'd been there for him when he came home to find his brother who was also happy to have met him at last.

Well, Naruto finally starts his detective work, and Itachi just finished off his assassin, but the one behind it all has to go...though does it take much to say Fuu might be right? :S

The exchange between Itachi and Fuu, in terms of how long he'd been dead as well as what he does to people so he could survive - before killing the one sent to do the job on him - was from the scene in the "Inca Mummy Girl" episode, in Ampata and her bodyguard whom she drained the life from afterwards.

Review please.