A/N: Hello again everyone! So what the hell happened to Anko? Did she fall? Did she pass out? Was she just thrown off balance? I'll tell you in a few moments, I promise. Also, we're going a little deeper into Itachi too. During the time we spend with Itachi, I threw out a little something to my friend and fellow author MeatwaD9021. Let's see if he can find it. You ready? Then let's get started. Enjoy!

Anko was only out for a few moments. She came to quickly and thought what the fuck was that? She sat up slowly – the room was still spinning just a bit. She sat there and waited for her head to clear. After a couple of minutes, her vision stabilized, and she reached for the liniment that was still in the cabinet under her sink. She sat right on the floor and rubbed some of it on her lower back. She could feel the heat spreading from it as it worked into her skin, heating the muscles it was meant to relax. She put the liniment back, and decided to try and stand up. She got to her knees first, waiting to see if her head was going to make the room swing to one side again – but it didn't. She held on to the sink and pulled herself up. When she was standing, still holding the sink, she waited to see if she was ok. I don't know what the hell that was, but I'm so tired, if I don't get to bed right now, I'll never make it. She staggered to the bedroom, holding on to the walls as she went. She got to the bed and fell into it quite roughly. Kakashi snorted in his deep slumber, but didn't wake up. I don't want him to wake up now. He needs his rest, and I do too. Plus, I don't want him asking any questions right now. She quickly succumbed to sleep beside her deeply breathing husband.

Knocking at the door woke Kakashi in the morning. He grumbled to Anko, "Hey. Honey. Someone's at the door." Anko didn't stir. He grabbed her hip and shook her back and forth, but still she didn't wake up. "ANKO. Hey Hun? Jeez, she's out like a light again. Looks like it's up to me to go see who's pounding the door down." He carefully rolled to his side, and hopped out of bed on his good leg, then grabbed the crutches he'd put against the wall by the bed. "Coming!" he called as he crutched his way to the front door. He looked out the peep hole and saw pink everywhere. "Ah," he said aloud and opened the door so Sakura could come in.

"Kakashi! What the hell are you doing up. You should have had Anko let me in."

He said, "I tried to wake her, but she's out of it. She's been exhausted ever since she injured her back."

Sakura said, "Maybe it was a bit early for her to have gone back to work."

"I'm thinking so. So where do you want me?"

Sakura looked around, and said, "That couch looks pretty good. Just lie down on it and face the couch, so I can see the whole wound.

Kakashi said, "This is gonna be a little bit weird Sakura. Maybe I should go change into some shorts. If not, I'm going to drop trou right here. I do have boxers on."

Sakura said, "I don't want to see your underwear if I can help it – go ahead and change. I'll wait here for you."

"Right." Kakashi hobbled back to the bedroom to get some shorts to wear.

He rummaged through his drawer and found a suitable pair. He tossed his sweats aside and slid into his shorts carefully. He looked over at Anko when he'd finished dressing and she was still in the same position she'd been in when he left. God, she's out cold. I had no idea how much this mission took out of her. He left her sleeping and returned to Sakura.

"Ah, that's better," Sakura said to her former sensei. "Now just lie on the couch, and let me get a look at that leg."

Kakashi did as he was told. Sakura looked over his entire wound and said, "Shizune treated you didn't she?"

"I suppose she did – I was out of it when the wound was cleaned and treated."

"I'd know her work anywhere." She did a few hand seals, then held her hands over Kakashi's wound. "I have a message to deliver to you too. Tsunade-sama asked that you and Anko come to her offices tomorrow afternoon. She spoke with Itachi, and all are in agreement that Orochimaru's body will be disposed of then."

Kakashi asked, "Will they do it in the medical research area?"

"No. In the chunin exam arena."

"Why there?"

Sakura said, "Itachi said the technique he planned to use, was quite destructive, and he needed a lot of space to work with. We're all to meet outside Tsunade's offices, then we will have the body transported to the chunin exam arena, where it will be placed in another sealing jutsu, then Itachi will do his thing."

"Ok, we'll be there after lunch tomorrow. That a good time?"

"Yes, that should be fine. Tsunade will want to look at your leg to make sure it's healing well. Shizune said she'll be over tonight to administer another healing treatment. I can't believe it Kakashi – we're finally going to get rid of Orochimaru once and for all."

Kakashi noticed the dark circles under Sakura's eyes. She's been working so many hours on that bastard. "Amen to that," he said. Anko will be able to have that normal life she always wanted as soon as he's gone for good.

Sakura stayed with Kakashi for about twenty minutes. Then she helped him do some stretching exercises to make sure that his leg muscles that were being healed with chakra didn't shorten or stiffen up. Soon, she was finished with her ministrations and said, "Ok, you're all done for now. Do you want me to look in on Anko?"

Kakashi sat up, marveling at how much better he could do so now, and said, "I think that's a good idea Sakura. You know where the bedroom is – go ahead. I'll meet you there in a minute." Sakura walked off in the direction of the bedroom, and Kakashi reached for his crutches. He followed her in.

Sakura knelt down next to their bed and looked at Anko's face. It was drawn and pale. She gently placed her hand on Anko's forehead. She said, "She looks like she has a fever, but she doesn't. That's strange." Sakura took Anko's hand and felt her pulse in her wrist. "Her heart rate is a little slow, but it's still in the normal range. How's her appetite been?"

"Normal if not a little more than usual."

"She just may be overworked. That's what I'd bet it is. She wasn't ready to get back to work so soon. Let her sleep as long as she wants today. If she's still tired, have Shizune look at her later on when she comes by. Honestly, I think she's just exhausted, and her body shut her down for a while. No need to worry Kakashi."

"Thanks Sakura. That puts my mind at ease."

"You're welcome. Well, I have to go watch Orochimaru's creepy body for a few hours. Make sure it doesn't try and infiltrate a person, or get up and walk around."

"He's walked around? Without a head?"

"No, he hasn't walked around yet. But I wouldn't put it past him. See you tomorrow Kakashi. No need to see me out."

"Ok. See you tomorrow." Sakura left the bedroom, and Kakashi waited until he heard the apartment door close.

Kakashi got back into bed. He wasn't quite ready to eat breakfast yet. Instead, he cuddled up to his wife, and contemplated reading her some Icha Icha while she slept. He wondered if it would give her naughty dreams if he did. That was definitely something he wanted to try sometime. Instead, he let her sleep, like Sakura said to. After about forty five minutes, his stomach growled loud enough to make him get out of bed and find something to eat. As he stood up, he looked back at his wife and said, "I know one sure fire way to get you to wake up Anko." He went to the kitchen to fry some bacon.

After Itachi woke from sleeping a full day, he ate some breakfast and drank more tea. Then he went outside into the lush grasses and sat down, facing the valley below him. He closed his eyes, and began to meditate, trying to find peace in his mind. He'd never succeeded in ever finding it before, what makes me think I'll find it now he thought as he breathed deeply in through his nose, and back out again. He began to think back toward all the things he'd done in his life. How he never had enough time for Sasuke when they were growing up, how his Father, who he found out was attempting a coup, was so proud of him and his talents, the looks on the faces of his Aunt and Uncle as they were slain in cold blood in the street, the terrified look in Sasuke's eyes as he turned and scrambled away from him, calling him a 'monster' as he panicked and ran for his life.

Itachi accepted the fact that what was done, could never be undone. Killing his entire clan went against everything he stood for. But when he found out what they planned to do, overthrowing the third Hokage and taking Konoha for themselves – practically starting a civil war inside the village – he chose to do what he was ordered to do, for the betterment of all. He accepted his brands – killer – murderer – butcher – and left the village with them. And now, that same village asked for his help yet again. Somehow, as he meditated, he felt that this was very cathartic to him. Returning to the village, not as a labeled 'monster' but as a helpful talented young man, who was respected by the highest ranking ninjas in the village. He was no longer going to be looked at as a villain, but from that point on, as a hero, or maybe even a savior – a savior of the village. He was a ninja – he lived his own personal nindo. His ninja way was a way of peace, and if using his talents to obliterate any chance of Orochimaru ever getting his hands on Sasuke or anyone else for that matter, he'd do it without question. Although Kisame . . . Kisame forgive me.

He quietly sat in the sunlight, hearing the wind blow up the mountain side. He felt the grass move around him, touching his skin briefly, rippling against his foot at times. He focused, and turned his mind inward, trying to lose himself in the sound in the wind. He focused harder, and tried to not feel the grass as a foreign body touching him, but to not feel it at all, because he was one with it. Itachi breathed slow deep breaths, as he tried to take the wind into himself, and become united with it. All his painful memories clouded and faded. Everything was dark behind his closed eyes; there were only the sounds of nature around him. He was connected to it, and for a moment, he thought is this peace? He held himself as still as he could to feel no pain from his memories, no fatigue from his eyes, no remorse for the dead. A small quiet flame of pride began to grow in his belly, and he found that he was proud of the service he gave, and would give to the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

Itachi sat motionless for over an hour. While he meditated, Spoo had come back to his cottage, and upon seeing him outside, decided not to interrupt him. Instead, she wrote him a detailed note letting him know that she would be returning the following afternoon to escort him back to the Hokage's offices. Then all would go to the chunin exam arena, and he could then, finish the task he'd been asked to do for the Village. After one last look at him, his inky black hair tied back and glistening in the sunlight, she turned and left him.

The rest of the day was uneventful for the ninjas of the Hidden Leaf Village. Asuma and Kurenai took a long luxurious bath together, Gai and Lee sparred, then did three laps around the village walking on their hands, Jiraiya peeped in the women's hot springs – which earned him a poke in the eye, Kakashi read some of his favorite Icha Icha passages, and Anko slept.

Kakashi was getting worried. Frying bacon did not get the woman out of bed. That was a first. When it was going on mid-afternoon, he finally decided it was time for her to wake up. He said, "Anko, rise and shine! We're going to have company in a little while." She grunted. Good, that's at least something. "Come on honey! Can't have you sleeping all day long. We've got instructions from Tsunade on what we're doing tomorrow." He pushed her hip and rocked her back and forth.

"Arrruhuhruhhh!" she groaned at him.

"What was that? Stop it Kakashi or I'll punch you in the neck?"

"Rahrrrra."

He got close to her face and said, "Have you lost the ability to speak?"

"No. Just don't want to. Tired."

Kakashi said, "It's after 3PM. You've been asleep from what I can guess, for about twelve hours."

Anko mumbled, "No shit?"

"No shit. Aren't you starving?"

Anko rolled on her back and stretched. She still looked very tired, but at least some of the color was coming back to her face. "After 3PM? Oh shit! Was Sakura here? Did she come by and give you a treatment?"

"She was here and gone around seven this morning. You slept right through everything."

"I'm sorry. I was just so tired."

"Did you at least have a few good dreams?"

She thought a moment and said, "I don't think I dreamt at all. I don't remember any of them if I did."

"Shizune should be here soon. I have some food if you want something to eat."

Anko inhaled and stretched again, then she sat up, "DO I SMELL BACON?"

Kakashi smiled at her, "You do. I thought it might wake you up earlier, but it did no such thing. I contemplated dipping it in chocolate, but I thought that might be too much for you. It's in the kitchen on a plate, along with an egg, a banana and some dried figs."

Anko's mouth fell open as she thought CHOCOLATE. COVERED. BACON. Oh dear God in heaven . . . She wanted to vault out of bed and RUN to the food, but she remembered that she'd had a case of vertigo before she went to bed. So she cautiously sat up, swung her legs over the side of the bed, and noticing that she felt ok, she stood up and headed for the kitchen. She didn't even stop at the bathroom. She went right for the bacon.

As soon as she reached the kitchen, the bacon smell doubled. She inhaled deeply and said, "Ooooh, nothing smells as good as bacon." She found the plate Kakashi had made for her. A hard boiled egg was next to four strips of bacon. An unpeeled banana was next to the plate, and a hand full of dried figs were on the plate with the bacon. She practically tore the wrap off the pate and shoved an entire slice of bacon in her mouth – savoring the salty smoky chewy crispy pork belly. Before she finished chewing, she took a big bite of the hard boiled egg. "Ahhh," she said out loud around a mouthful of food. She swallowed the half chewed foods and then stuffed another slice of bacon in her mouth.

As she chewed the second slice of bacon, she said, "Hmmm, doesn't taste right. Needs something." She went to her refrigerator and looked inside. "Ah! There it is." He pulled out a bottle of ketchup. She then squirted a line of it down the center of the third slice of bacon, and stuffed it in her mouth. "Oooh, now THAT's perfect. Can't go wrong with ketchup." She ate the last slice of bacon this same way, then devoured the banana quickly. She grabbed the fist full of dried figs and walked back to the bedroom where Kakashi still was. She said as she popped a fig in her mouth, "Thanks," pop, "for making me," pop, "breakfast," pop. She chewed the sweet dried fruit and smiled at him.

"Looks like it's done you some good. Your cheeks have some color again."

Chew, swallow, pop, chew swallow, "Was I that bad," pop, chew, "before?"

"Yeah. I was really getting worried. Oh, before I forget, did you get your wrist looked at? Did you get any testing done while I was out of it in the hospital?"

"Kakashi, I told you," pop, chew, "that I didn't even eat when you were there. Of course, I didn't," pop, chew, "get anything done. There was no time. And I wouldn't have left you anyway. I'll go see Tsunade about it tomorrow. Get whatever tests done she thinks could pinpoint what's going on."

Kakashi said, "You may have to wait a couple of days. We're to meet with Tsunade tomorrow around noonish. Orochimaru's body is going to be transported to the chunin exam arena, and Itachi's going to dispose of it then. I figured you'd definitely want to be there for that."

Anko stood silently for a moment. He'll be gone forever? Tomorrow? "You bet your ass I want to be there for that."

"Be careful with my ass!" Kakashi said, "It's still sore from the shot they gave me."

"Awww, poor baby. Want mommy to kiss it? Make it feel better?" She eyed him seductively.

"You seriously want to kiss my ass?" He asked her.

She walked up to him and said, "Not in the way YOU think," she raised her eyebrows at him.

Kakashi smiled back at his naughty little wife's idea, then they both rolled their eyes when someone knocked at their door. "Coitus interruptus – againus!" Kakashi said.

"You're not supposed to be having sex yet anyway. I'll go see who's here."

"TEASE!" he called to her as she left the bedroom. "Evil woman," he muttered quietly to himself. "Knows just what to do . . ."

Anko went to the door and looked outside. Shizune was on the other side of the door, smiling. Anko opened the door, "Shizune! Come on in."

"Thank you Anko. Where's the patient?"

"He's in the bedroom. I'll go get him."

"Ok. Sakura said she had no problem treating him on the couch. If he wants to do that again, that would be fine. But Anko, before you go," Anko stopped and turned to face her, "Sakura said that she and Kakashi couldn't wake you earlier when she was here. I spoke with Tsunade about this, and we'd like you to come in for some testing after Orochimaru's body is eliminated."

"That's funny, Kakashi and I were just talking about the same thing. I've never been so tired in my life. Ever since I tore the disk in my back, it's been one thing after another. I'd like to get to the bottom of this too, so I can get back to work."

"We'll schedule it – for the day after the big event."

"Fine with me. I'll go get his highness." Anko trotted off to get Kakashi, feeling pretty well after her twelve hours of sleep and bacon breakfast. She returned with him momentarily.

"Hey Shizune," Kakashi said to her. "The couch ok?"

"That's fine with me. Go ahead and I'll get started on your leg."

Kakashi got onto the couch and lay there, while Shizune examined the quickly healing wound. "You're lucky this wasn't deeper. You may have had to have surgery to stitch some muscles back together if they'd been severed. Luckily, they were only cut into, rather than cut through."

"It hurt like hell either way you tell it," Kakashi said.

"I know it did. I saw the exposed nerves." She then did her hand seals and her healing chakra flowed.

All three were quiet for a while, then Kakashi asked, "Things still all set for tomorrow?"

Shizune said, "Yes indeed. We're finally going to be rid of Orochimaru's body. Honestly it's quite frightening. It moves at times, but luckily, with everyone watching it in shifts, it never moves far." Anko visibly shivered when she thought of Orochimaru moving.

Shizune said, "It'll all be over soon, and we can all get on with our lives. We'll never have to worry about him again." Both Anko and Kakashi wished they could both get that in writing.

A/N: So the time is coming! Soon, Orochimaru will be no more! But what will Itachi do? You'll find out soon.

Next up: The big day finally comes - the elimination of Orochimaru's body is to commence. Itachi and Tsunade discuss the details of the jutsu he plans to use to complete the job and adjustments to the plans have to be made to not destroy any innocent bystanders. And - yep - I'm not even gonna say it. See you soon!