Yes, I know. It's been a long time. My laptop was down so I had to save up the money for the hardware repair plus I lost all of my work so you can imagine the stress I've been going through with my internship, money problems and lack of access to a computer these past few months.

I know these sound like excuses but honestly I did not mean to make you wait. I love you guys very much and from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for your support thus far and really hope it continues as well.

I'll continue to try my best. Thank you all for your patience.

Love,

Hime

"I'm impressed Kisame, you actually look human."

"Haha" Kisame says as he rolls his eyes at his partner's humour.

Kisame had henged his apperance to a form where he looked more humane; tanned skin, dark blue hair and hazel eyes.

Itachi being a former Leaf ninja had henged into a more different appearance; his hair now white & wrinkles gone, he had turned off his Sharingan and wore sunglasses.

Both Akatsuki ninjas wore Mist headbands as a cover.

"I think we should be okay & we won't be bothered" Kisame says to his partner.

"Perhaps" was Itachi's solemn reply.

"Neji-nii!"

The two wanted ninjas turned to see two Hyuugas in an alley, a small girl & a teenage boy.

"Siblings?"Kisame thought.

Itachi's eyes narrowed recognizing the doujutsu users.

Neji Hyuuga, Hinata's older cousin.

Hanabi Hyuuga, Hinata's younger sister.

"How could you lose all love for Nee-san?"

"I had never said that" the Hyuuga male had protested.

"THEN? Why did you look so dumbfounded when I asked?!"

"BECAUSE I HAD HURT HER!"

Kisame almost jumped at his voice and looked around to see if anyone was watching the two as well but apparently there weren't any but Itachi knew better. He knew the people in the village would perk their ears up, they may seems like they were ignoring the Hyuugas but they were paying attention; you could tell because the villagers were slowing their movements.

The Leaf villagers lived for gossip.

Neji breathed deeply to calm down, "I put Hinata in the hospital and it took Naruto the most annoying and dumbest ninja of his cohort to knock some sense into me. I took my anger out on Hinata and hurt her deeply. I was horrible. I was her original protector, I am her direct cousin and I was so mean to her. I was wrong to treat her the way I did yet I've known that for a while now but I have not apologized to her."

Hanabi took a while to process his words before finally speaking, "You haven't apologized? "

Neji shook his head, looking ashamed. The clan heiress moved to hold his hand to comfort him.

"Let's go see Hinata onee-san."

For the first time he could ever recall, he saw Hanabi give him a genuine smile.

With Team 7

Sakura groaned, "Can we rest now?"

Sasuke rolled her eyes seeing that the pinkette was tired, "Loser."

Kakashi shook his head, "We can have a short break. Stop at the huge oak tree up ahead."

Sakura breathed a sigh of relief and moved to where Naruto had stopped.

"That's a large canteen you have Naruto-kun."

"Yeah well Suna is a long way away. Wouldn't want to get dehydrated you know?"

"Wow that's a big word for you Dobe." Sasuke says as she lands next time his side from the branch

above.

"Don't be mean Sasuke." chided Sakura before taking a swig of her own canteen.

Sasuke rolled her eyes and Sakura's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. Seeing this, Sasuke just smirked at her in amusement before drinking from her own bottle. Naruto sweatdropped watching his teammates.

"Everyone has drank already?" Kakashi asked from his perch on the branch above them.

"Yes" the genins answered in unison.

"Then let's get moving kids."

"Hai!"

Then, they set off.

At Konoha

Itachi suggested to Kisame to seperate so as to cover more ground, his partner had agreed and two left on their ways. Kisame went to check on Naruto's house whereas Itachi decided to go a different route on his own.

"This is it Nii-san?"

Neji nodded before knocking on the door, "At least she's living in a better apartment building than

Naruto's, his apartment building looks on the verge of shutting down soon enough."

Hanabi said nothing and stared at the door before losing her patience and knocked on the door loudly herself just 5 seconds later."

Neji looked at her disapprovingly ,"Hanabi-sama."

"What? Your knocking wasn't loud enough."

Itachi smirked in amusement when he saw a frustrated expression crossed the pale Hyuuga's face at his cousin's answer.

"If you're looking for Hinata, she's out. What is your buisness with her?"

Recognizing the cool, monotone voice, Itachi lowered himself so that only his eyes could be seen from the window ledge if anybody bothered to turn.

"Sai-san." Neji acknowledged.

"Who is this creep?" Hanabi asked aloud.

Sai narrowed his eyes in distaste, "Obviously you are nothing like your sister. May only Kami-sama understand why your father would rather a brat like you as his heiress compared to a respectable, polite young lady like Hinata."

The young Hyuuga glared at Sai but Sai just ignored her and turned to the other Hyuuga, "What are you doing here?"

"We wanted to see Hinata."

"For?"

"Why do you care?" asked Hanabi, rudely.

"Because I'm a friend that actually cares about her compared to her own family?"

Hanabi flushed then and Sai continued, "Hinata is out. She won't be back for a while so I suggest you try tomorrow if you feel like your business with her is that important."

Neji nodded, taking Hanabi's hand in hers, "Then, we'll leave."

Sai watched them go blankly much to the discomfort of the two Hyuugas who hurried out and Itachi watching all of this saw that it was time for him to leave but before he could move to do so, he was caught.

"Come in you nosy weasel."

Resisting the urge to smile in good humour at the nickname, he entered the building to meet Sai's calculating eyes.

"Are you going to kill me?"

"No."

Itachi was surprised, "No?"

Sai shook his head, "I will not kill you because I know why you did what you did."

Itachi flinched and the pale-skinned teen continued.

"It was an order from Danzo. I knew this because I came across your file in Danzo's archives."

"And you kept this to yourself?" Itachi asked, dubious.

"Of course I did because if I told the others, they would drop everything to search for you to bring you back."

Itachi raised an eyebrow but kept silent.

"I love Hinata and I want her to stop pining over you. I want to cure her heartbreak & make her fall in love with me."

Now that proclamation caught Itachi off guard, he stared at Sai in complete shock, unable to say anything.

"I understand why you erased Sasuke's memories as well because you knew that your brother liked

Hinata as well. You-"

"Now that is untrue" Itachi says firmly cutting off his former pupil. "I erased Sasuke's memories of

Hinata because I did not want his path as an avenger be tied with hers. She can strive to do so much as a kuniochi if she was not held back."

"Of course she can" agreed Sai. "But do you still love Hinata?"

"Why ask me what you already know?"

Sai clenched his fists, "Why? You know she'll never forgive you for what you did."

"I know"

"So why?"

"Because I can never stop loving her like how I'll continue to look out for Sasuke as I look out for you and Naruto. I was proud of being your sensei as ANBU Team Weasel. You, Naruto & Hinata had been a second family to me."

Sai gritted his teeth but the Uchiha continued, "I'll never stop caring for you guys and I'll continue to love Hinata as I please. You cannot stop me Sai."

Before the ANBU Root member could retort, Itachi disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

Hime: Please review!