Here it is! Took me longer than usual, but It's there!
Sorry it's really late, I had it ready a while ago, but I'm having problems uploading to/editing this story. Every time I pulled it up, I got the error page.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto!
Kotetsu stretched and scratched his nose, "Why do we always get this job?" he complained as he yawned loudly.
Izumo and Kotetsu sat in the little guard house at the village gates like always.
"You should be proud to guard the citizens of Konoha," chastised Izumo.
"But it isn't exciting at all!" whined Kotetsu.
As the two shinobi bickered, two small shapes could be seen slowly approaching the village. As they got closer, it became apparent that they had been on the road for a long time. Their ripped clothes were covered in mud as well as some blood.
The larger figure was walking a little strangely, hesitantly even, and the other was nursing an arm.
It was only when they were a couple meters away from the gate that Izumo noticed them. He stopped mid-word and his eyes widened.
"But you've got to admit," continued Kotetsu, "It isn't a very cushy job. Am I right?" When he got no answer, he looked over at his friend to see what happened. He followed Izumo's gaze and when his eyes rested on the scene before him he gawked in awe.
Suddenly, Izumo snapped out of his stupor, "Go get the Hokage!" he ordered as he started running to the two people approaching the gate. Kotetsu stood still in awe. "Go! Now!" Izumo said again as he looked back at his partner. Kotetsu snapped to attention and started running towards the Hokage Residence.
Once Itachi and Kimiko reached the gates, they got swept up in a whirl of action.
Izumo met them just outside the gate and they were to be escorted to the Hokage Residence, but Tsunade met them halfway there. When she laid eyes on them, the shock registered only to be pushed to the back of her mind once she took in their appearance, and saw that Itachi was blind.
They were promptly rushed to the hospital for treatment as well as a physical and mental assessment.
As they were rushed through the village, people stopped and stared in awe at them, but none of that registered to either of them, because they were home. They could finally completely let their guards down and relax.
Once they got to the hospital, Tsunade rushed off to get a medical team while Itachi and Kimiko were shown to adjacent rooms.
As soon as she realized this, Kimiko shook her head vehemently. Even if they were home, she still wasn't comfortable with having Itachi out of her sight. It made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Finally, they were put in a hospital room with two beds and a thin blue curtain that could divide the room.
Medical teams rushed around the room checking on Itachi's and Kimiko's stats, with Tsunade overseeing them.
Kimiko was getting tired, it was like those three months on the run from the Sound and Rain ninja had finally caught up with her, and now that she didn't have to fight for her survival anymore, she could finally get a decent sleep. So even with the medic-nin poking and prodding at her she drifted off into a deep sleep.
When she woke up, all the medic ninja were gone, and her arm felt good as new. Even though the medic ninja were gone, the room seemed even louder. She looked over at Itachi's bed and saw that he was now surrounded by His Shisui, Tobi, Reiko, and his mother and father. Reiko was hugging him.
Kimiko grimaced a little as she sat up and groaned.
"Look!" yelled Tobi, "Kimi-chan's awake!" He ran and threw himself on her in a big bear hug, and Shisui wasn't too far after him.
Tobi was sobbing, "We thought you two were dead!" he cried.
At the same time Shisui was crushing her, "I told you they weren't dead!" he said triumphantly.
Suddenly Temari's fan came out of nowhere and thumped Tobi and Shisui on the head.
The let go in pain and Temari soon replaced them. "I'm so glad you're ok!" she said in relief, "Never ever scare me like that again!" She said sternly as she released her hold on Kimiko.
Kimiko smiled, "Don't worry, I don't plan on it," she said seriously.
She looked up and saw Kakashi standing at the end of her bed. He walked over to her and gently embraced her for a split second, then backed up and cleared his throat, "Welcome home," he said, his eyes creased in a way that made it obvious he was smiling.
She smiled back at him. She was home, and she was with her family. For the first time in a long time, she felt whole.
She looked over at Itachi, but he obviously wasn't feeling the same way. His brow was furrowed and he had a frown on his face.
She was about to ask what was wrong when Tsunade walked over to Itachi's bed.
"Good news," she said, "Because your loss of sight is poisoned based, we can make an antidote, and with a few healing sessions, your sight should come back.
Fugaku looked as stern as always, but Mikoto, let out a visible sign of relief, and so did Kimiko.
"That's great Itachi," enthused Reiko.
"Yeah," joined in Shisui, "Now you can still serve as a ninja!"
"No," said Fugaku, "After this, he's quitting Anbu and joining the Uchiha police force until he becomes the head of the clan.
Loud shouts of protest could be heard from Shisui and Tobi, while Mikoto just looked away sadly, but nothing came out of Itachi. He just looked the same as he had when Kimiko first looked over.
A tense, awkward silence fell after that. A couple moments later, Fusa, one of the head medic ninja came in and announced that visiting hours were over.
Everyone shuffled out quickly, dying to escape the tense atmosphere. Temari, Shisui and Tobi smiled and waved at her as they left, and Kakashi gave her his trademark eye crinkle. Reoodiko kissed Itachi on the cheek and was about to walk out the door, when she turned and smied at Kimiko, "Good to have you back," she said, then she turned and left.
Finally it was just Kimiko and Itachi left in the room.
It was silent, and then Itachi spoke. His voice was as if it came from a person that knew he would die in the next twenty-four hours, rather than someone who had just learned that he'd get to see again.
He whispered it so quietly; Kimiko had to strain her ears to hear his words. "Sasuke defected from Konoha."
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