A big thank to Sukki18 for her review! Please enjoy this new chapter. Things are speeding up a bit, as I promised in the last chapter.

Have a good weekend, and happy valentine!

Chapter twenty nine

Itachi opened silently the door, letting Gin enter before him and stepping inside, closing it behind him.

Sighing and stretching a bit before taking his soaked cloak off, he noticed the light was still on in the living room.

Peaking inside, he saw Damaru asleep, sitting on the ground, her head on the sofa. Yuki was sleeping, curled beside the girl.

His dark eyes scanned the mess of papers scattered on the low table in messy piles.

Smiling, Itachi kneeled beside the white haired girl, caressing a snowy strand behind an ear.

The contact made her peridot green eyes flutter open and when she recognised who was standing before her, though still sleepy, she gave him the most beautiful smile he ever saw.

"Tadaima." He said softly, smiling back.

"Okaeri." Answered Damaru.

Itachi pressed tenderly their foreheads together before picking her up bridal style.

She didn't protest and put her head on his shoulder, falling back asleep with a contented sigh.

Gin nuzzled Yuki awake and the white she-wolf gave him a whine accompanied by an affectionate lick before getting up.

They followed their two partners to their bedroom and laid at the end of the bed together, Yuki's muzzle burrowed into Gin's torso while his own head rested on her shoulder blade.

'I'm home.'

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"Son." Said very solemnly Itachi's father Fugaku "Now is the time."

The ten years old boy stayed in a kneeling position, his mind running a mile per second to find why the totality of the Uchiha council was present for their father/son talk.

"You're now an ANBU, at the early age of ten." Fugaku continued, a note of pride in his voice "And now powerful enough to help us in our project."

"Project, father?" couldn't help but ask Itachi, glancing up.

His father was in a very good mood, and only sent him a stern glance to reprimand him before answering.

"Yes, son. I'm sure you're aware of the shameful position our clan is in actually?"

This time Itachi was able to stay quiet and lowered his gaze.

"Our noble clan founded Konoha." Fugaku continued, a fanatic gleam in his eyes now "We're superiors to the others and yet, we have been, since the beginning, leashed like vulgar dogs by our enemies, because they were afraid of our powers."

"Our clan is restricted inside Konoha like common guenins." Argued one of the elders.

"We were banished from the politics." Another added.

"We're confined in this compound like cattles!" said a third elder.

"This is why!" Itachi's father exclaimed triumphantly "We plan to overthrow the Hokage and taking his place in directing Konoha like we deserve! And you will play a major role in this son."

"Me?" asked the boy, having great difficulties repressing his surprise and horror.

A plan like that could only end in a catastrophe.

"Yes." Fugaku nodded more calmly "You're the first Uchiha to weave his way to the Hokage. As an ANBU you'll be able to be near him, and spy on him for us."

The adults lost themselves soon in exited conversations before drowning themselves with alcohol, celebrating their future victory.

As for Itachi, he eclipsed himself as soon as possible, dread and horror filling his being.

He ran straight to the Hokage's tower.

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Damaru tore her gaze from the microscope to scribble a few lines on the notebook beside her.

The centrifuge machine beeped and she went to collect her test tubes before running several chemical reactions on them.

When they were done she wrote down the results and smiled at her almost finished work. It had taken her a whole week but she was finally able to separate and define the molecules.

"Finished!" she exclaimed happily, making her chair spin and giggling like a little girl (which technically she was, but well…).

It was then that she noticed the boy observing her.

Stopping her chair, she concentrated on him.

He was older than her, but not by much. His hairs looked like Shin's, silver but matter than her boy. His eyes were black and seemed empty to her on first impression.

"Yes?" she asked curiously "Is there something you want?"

"Sorry." The boy smiled sheepishly, seemingly embarrassed at being caught staring "But I saw you and couldn't help but wonder…are you working in this hospital?"

"Not really." Damaru answered truthfully "I'm an intern, so I'm not paid."

"An intern?" said the boy, surprised "Aren't you a bit…?"

"Too young?" Damaru completed "Perhaps, but my age never stopped me before."

"Sorry if I was rough." The boy apologised "May I ask your name and your age?"

"My name is Damaru, and I'm nine, though in a few days I'll be ten! And you?"

She had taken the habit to not mention her clan unless specifically asked. It had the tendency to create more trouble than it was worth.

"I'm Kabuto Yakushi." The boy smiled "And I'm twelve."

"Yakushi? Like the headmaster Yakushi-san?" asked curiously Damaru.

When the boy nodded, she smiled.

"Sugoi." She said "Are you interested in the medical field?"

And like that, the two children engaged a passionate conversation about what their likes and dislikes.

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"Picnic! Picnic!" Naruto chanted happily, running around the house.

"Naruto." Rin scolded as the four years old boy ran into her legs while she was carrying the sandwiches "Stop running around."

The blond head pouted and protested "But I'm so excited! We're going to picnic!"

Rin sighed and Kakashi chuckled before taking the plate of sandwiches from her.

"He's just happy." He reassured, putting it into the basket "The children aren't going out of the house a lot."

"Thank you for finding some free time." Rin smiled, passing the drinks "Sakumo and I couldn't have done it without your help. I still don't know how Damaru manages it."

"It's nothing." Replied her husband "Itachi was too busy, and I haven't done anything with them since new year. Though I'm surprised Damaru-chan isn't there."

"She's meeting us at the park." Rin told him, putting the fruits salad in the basket "Her shift only end in half an hour."

She felt someone tug at her pants and looked down to see Sai.

"Are we ready?" asked eagerly the boy, looking up hopeful at her.

"Almost." Rin answered.

The boy nodded before returning to his brother Shin who was playing with Sakumo.

Ten minutes later the little group exited the house and walked to the park in relative order (as ordered a group made of several young children and excited cubs could be).

"Obaa-san." Sasuke asked, tugging on her pant before pointing to a vendor "The koboris."

"The what?" Rin blinked, trying to divide her attention between Shin who was asking questions and the dark haired boy.

She looked where Sasuke was gesturing and smiled.

"Ah yes, the koinoboris." She said "Come on, we'll buy you one."

"Can I have one too?" Sai asked.

"Of course." Rin nodded "It is Hatsuzekku today."

They went into the shop to buy the traditional fish kite. It took a bit of 'persuading' from Kakashi and Sakumo, but Naruto was able to have the orange, red and yellow one that had caught his eyes.

When everyone had one, they resumed their walk to the park, the koinoboris floating like patches of colours above them (though not so much, since Sasuke's was black, dark blue and white, Sai's was black and white, Haku's white, light green and blue and Shin's grey, light blue and white).

They found a spot near the lake and Sakumo helped Rin prepare the picnic while Kakashi showed the boys how tie down their kite so that they wouldn't fly off.

"Sorry I'm late." Damaru apologised, stopping near them after running through the park "Thank you for your help."

"It's nothing." Rin smiled before turning to the children "Boys! Look who's here."

"Okaa-chan!" Naruto exclaimed first, abandoning his kite which Kakashi had to catch, running into her open arms "Did you see my kobori?"

"Koinobori Naruto-kun." Damaru corrected gently, detangling herself from him to hug the others boys "And yes I saw your kite. It stands out quite a bit in the middle of the others."

"And mine?" asked Sasuke.

"It's very like you Sasuke-kun."

Rin chuckled and left the girl to answer the boys' incessant questions to concentrate on finishing getting the food out.

"Come and eat!" she announced once she finished.

Immediately the boys left Damaru to grab their sandwiches and the white haired girl sighed in relief.

While Rin was feeding the little monsters, she turned to Kakashi.

"Kakashi?" she asked softly "How is Itachi?"

The silver haired man turned serious eyes to her. He knew how worried she was since the boy became even more closed than before, absent most of the time and barely talking anymore.

"He's well." He lied "But he's very busy since he became an ANBU."

Damaru stayed silent after that, and Kakashi knew he hadn't convinced her. She was Damaru. She always had that special power to read into your very soul.

He really pitied Itachi if he wanted to continue hiding the truth from her.

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"I don't want to go." Haku whined, plastering himself against Damaru, his face against her hips and his arms thrown around her waist.

Shin threw him a compassionate look from the other side of their mother.

"Haku." Damaru sighed, putting a hand on the boy's head "I'm sure you'll like the academy. And you'll be with Shin-kun. You will not be alone."

"The teachers are nice." The silver haired boy helped "And the students are nice too I'm sure, even though they'll be one year younger than us."

"But everyone is looking at us." Haku protested, looking shyly and a bit afraid at the whispering mothers and staring fathers.

"It's normal." Damaru explained gently "You're a Senju now, one of the most prominent clan in Konoha. People will look at you."

She detached the boy from her and kneeled at his level.

"Listen I know you aren't fond of people, but at the academy you'll learn a lot of things, and Shin will be with you. So, you promise to make an effort?"

Haku looked hesitant but nodded nonetheless, trusting his mother's judgement.

Damaru smiled before kissing his forehead.

"I'm proud of you." She smiled before turning to Shin "Look after your brother will you?"

The silvery blue haired boy nodded and Damaru kissed his forehead too before pushing them inside the building.

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Damaru sighed, bored out of her mind, putting her elbows on the counter of the reception desk.

"You seem very excited." Kabuto commented sarcastically, appearing around a corner with a smirk.

"Why shouldn't I?" Damaru replied sarcastically "Receptionist is a job sooo exiting. Not a minute of boredom."

Kabuto chuckled and went to sit next to her.

"How did little Shin's birthday go?"

"In a few words: high on sugar."

The boy chuckled again and they were silent for a while.

"Say?" Kabuto asked, a bit hesitant "Are you free tonight? We could go somewhere together."

To say Damaru was surprised was an understatement. She looked at him and blinked several times before noticing the boy was still waiting for an answer.

"Well, errr." She hesitated, searching for the right words "I'm sorry but I can't. I have a lot of things to do. Sorry again."

"No it's okay." Kabuto smiled reassuringly "I understand, you're very busy."

Damaru smiled, relieved, but also a little worried.

Perhaps she had imagined it, but for a moment a dangerous gleam had passed through the boy's eyes.

Deciding it was just her imagination, coupled with tiredness, she pushed the thought away.

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Damaru was busy relaxing, reading in her bed when Yuki, who was resting at her feet raised her head, ears perking up.

Catching her movement, Damaru closed her book and turned to the white wolf.

As the canine wasn't growling nor tense, she wasn't too worried.

"Yuki?" she asked "What is it?"

The wolf didn't say anything, only getting up to trot downstairs.

Curious, Damaru followed her to the living room and noticed the living room's light open.

She stepped in to see Itachi collapsed on the sofa.

"Itachi?" She asked, kneeling near him while Yuki nudged a drowsy Gin "Are you alright?"

"Sorry." The boy managed to mumble after a few seconds, straightening slowly "I'm just tired."

With great worry, she noticed his bags under his eyes, his pale complexion and the slight sluggishness of his movements.

"Come on." she coaxed, helping him up.

They climbed up to their room and Damaru helped him get to bed.

She stayed near him, caressing his hair absentmindedly.

An angel passed before Damaru gathered the courage to speak.

"Itachi." She pleaded softly "Please tell me."

The boy opened his eyes, fixing her gravely.

"Please." the white haired girl repeated "You worry me. You're so stressed I'm afraid you'll collapse."

Her peridot green eyes held his black grey ones and soon enough the boy sighed.

"What I'm about to reveal is an S-ranked secret. You cannot tell anyone."

Damaru nodded, her face serious but her eyes warm and grateful.

Itachi never regretted telling her, strangely enough since he had pledged the secret about the situation.

Simply because he saw her eyes.