Sorry for the late update. Busy week… there's a typhoon coming and exams too! Urgh.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

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Chapter Thirty Six

"Are you here to kill me Sasuke?" Itachi asked, spitting out the blood from his mouth. If to kill him was Sasuke's intention, then he guessed it was for the better. Sasuke was the real victim here after all. Itachi chose his own fate…chose the path that he will thread. Sasuke didn't.

And he preferred dying in the hands of his brother than any executioner.

He would have peace.

Sasuke would have his revenge.

The grip on his katana tightens. Sasuke looked down on his brother as flashes of memory of their happy times together played around his mind. Without a word, he raised the sword.

Itachi closed his eyes.

Then chains clanged on the cold stone floor when Sasuke broke them with a swift slash of his sword, freeing his older brother from the cold binds. Itachi opened his eyes and looked at him with surprise. So Itachi has other expression aside from his impassiveness…

Sasuke extended his hand.

Itachi accepted it.

"I know…everything."

The older Uchiha shook his head as the realization dawned on him. "Hinata told you…"

"You are a coward. Hinata is not. She was able to tell me something that you failed to do after so many years. But it doesn't change the fact that you killed our parents. It's still in your hands…and I still can't forgive you for that." Sasuke stated, looking at the brother he never thought he was going to talk to again. "Even if you did it for my sake."

"Hn."

"Why did you let the village manipulate you?" Sasuke gritted his teeth. "Why do you have to kill our parents and destroy both our lives?" He knew it was not the right time to ask now, but he just needs to hear it from Itachi's mouth. Anytime, Anbu guards would be swarming in on them, and he did not risked his life and rank without even hearing the truth out.

"There are things bigger than us Sasuke. You will understand that when you have lives to protect. The village's action at that time is understandable. If Hinata told you everything…you would know that I am right."

"And killing our clan is protecting lives? Killing our parents?"

"No. But it prevented a lot more deaths…and it would save my younger brother. One hand or another, if I did not stopped the clan, it would have resulted deaths on either side…and I am sure that it would kill you too. Danzo at that time was firm on extinguishing the Uchiha clan…so it the clan's faith was sealed one way or another. At least I would be able to save you upon choosing this path."

"You are a coward and an idiot."

"And you have grown to be strong…"

"Is the reunion finished?" A voice from outside the room said. It was so familiar that Itachi tilted his head to the side with a disbelieving expression—and it was just in time for him to see a tall figure entered, carrying a large purple sword. "The guards are coming so wrapped it up."

"What are you doing here Kisame?"

The shark-like man shrug. "We got kicked off from the Akatsuki. Unfortunately, Pein found out about Hinata-chan's sudden disappearance. I guess our plans were not foolproof after all." Looking at Sasuke, Kisame gave him a nod. "I see you're true to your word. I thought the message was some kind of trap."

"But you came."

"Yeah. You're brother grew on me in more ways than I expected. Even though he lied to me and was actually a Konohan spy." Kisame shook his head. "It's fucking disappointing really."

"You…have planned all this." Itachi looked at his younger brother who was now looking impassive. "What are you thinking Sasuke? You are making a mess out of things…and why did you call Kisame? You're going to get yourself into trouble."

Sasuke smirked. "Are you going to scold me now? I am the one who was supposed to be doing that after the lies you put inside my head Itachi."

"But what you are doing is treason and treachery."

"This is Tsunade's plan. I am going to bust you out."

"The Hokage knows of this?"

Outside the room, they could hear some sort of commotion. Sasuke activated his sharingan just as Itachi did. Kisame on the other hand, yawned and flexed his neck—a sign that he was well prepared for anything that might happen. He did not come in this place without some sort of trick on his sleeve, knowing that his life and Itachi's could be at risk.

-o-

(f) "You know that the jutsu inside of me is a fake all this time?" Sasuke almost screamed, planting his fist firmly on the desk. Tsunade was looking at him like a mother who was scrutinizing a child throwing a tantrum— A gesture which only triggered Sasuke's patience to crumble like dust. "Itachi was not a traitor and you know all this time!"

"I have to lower the Hyuga's loyalty record into a B apparently; she failed to keep something like this a secret." The Hokage muttered as she gestured for the seething Anbu to take a seat. "She told you…am I right?"

"Why didn't you tell me Hokage-sama?" Sasuke asked, pausing a bit to slammed a fist again on the table. "And why did you allow for Hinata to be taken by Akatsuki for more than a year? All of us back here were worried sick and—"

Tsunade rose from her chair and put her right hand on Sasuke's arm. She suddenly pushed him down on a chair using her inhuman strength without giving him any warning. Growling, she leaned forward to stare at the young Uchiha on the face. "It's because it has already been done even before I was Hokage. The problem is already present and I am trying my best to sort everything out. You might not understand my actions…but as Hokage, I assure you that I never wanted any of this…especially for my subjects."

Sasuke's glare did not waver. "The village is build by lies."

"Not all. Sometimes, you have to do a little evil to do greater good."

"It destroyed my life…"

"And you're brother destroyed his life to protect you. Now tell me Sasuke, what do you really want? You know the truth now…so I guess that you have something forming inside that Uchiha brain of yours." (f)

" ." Tsunade shook her head. "Uchiha Sasuke…you better hurry before it's too late."

"Are you saying something Tsunade-Shishou?" Shizune asked as she paused on her paper works and looked at the Kage who was looking smug yet worried at the same time. It was odd…so she tilt her head in curiosity and waited.

"No…just don't mind me." She waved a hand dismissively just at the same time that an Anbu materialized in front of them. It made Shizune stood up abruptly, dropping the pen on the floor with a dull clatter. No Anbu shows itself without being summoned, and as far as she knew, Tsunade summoned no one.

That only means there's an emergency.

"What?" Tsunade asked, bored.

"The Uchiha traitor Hokage-sama…he was escaping." The Anbu kneeled. "What should we do?"

Shizune gasped. This was terrible! Itachi Uchiha was very strong…and it would be hard to catch him once he was out of the Anbu prison building. "But how? "

"We are not yet sure…but the rest of the Anbu is on it—"

"Aburame right?" Tsunade cut the Anbu's words short. Leaning on the chair, she looked at the mask and was known she was right. There was only one Aburame in the Anbu and she knew Konoha twelve enough to identify each and every one of them.

"Hai." Shino frowned behind the mask. Names should not be mentioned as long as the mask is on…and the Hokage was not even looking like this was a problem at all. She was downright calm and uninterested about the matter.

"Hinata's teammate…"

"H-hai."

"Tsunade-sama…we must send word out. To the copy ninja…to—"

"Please keep quite Shizune. I am thinking here." Tsunade raised herself up and looked out of the window. "My…what a beautiful night isn't it? I could hear the night insects singing their night songs…you can understand them…as an Aburame right?"

Now Shino was just plain uneasy. "Hai…Hokage-sama."

"Eh?" Shizune was surprised. "Has the Hokage been drinking again?"

"Aburame Shino. Can you bring Hyuga Hinata here?" Tsunade asked, giving the Anbu a smile. She likes the young man. He was quiet and tends not to ask a lot of questions unlike Naruto or the Inouzuka brat. "Tell her she was being summoned. S-class."

"Hai Hokage-sama."

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Two years later…

"Arigatou." Hinata smiled as she took the basket filled with fruits and vegetables. It was Thursday, and Thursday was market day on her schedule. She loves shopping for her own food and other things she might need—though her father sometimes scolded her for doing so. He said they have servants for that.

She said she was old enough to do her own grocery shopping.

"Come back again Hinata-sama." The old man who was selling her favorite oranges waved. "Arigatou for the generous tip!"

As she walked, Hinata hummed softly. It was a good day to make ice cream. She could make a vanilla flavored one. Kiba loves her homemade ice cream…and Naruto too. It was the hottest month of the year…and everyone including her was craving something cold and sweet.

Yeah…she should make ice cream for all her friends.

"Hinata-sensei!" A group of young genins greeted her as she passed by the dumpling store. The young ones were drinking cold juice, another way to fight the heat. "Come eat with us?"

"You go and enjoy yourselves…" She politely declined the offer. "I still have to buy things…"

"Oh…maybe next time then sensei."

"Hai. As long as you promised to treat me." She joked. She likes the new batch of genins for they were always polite and easy to talk —though Kiba says that it was just because they liked her.

"Hai!" The genins answered happily. "See you in class tomorrow Hinata-sensei!"

Continuing on her stride, she saw Ino and Naruto eating ramen on Ichiraku's. Surprisingly, the Yamanaka has high tolerance for noodles and can match Naruto's bowl per bowl. Guess love can change even a person, even his or her appetite…

Love…Hinata sighed at the word. Yes…Love can change a person. She knew that very well…

"Hinata-chan?"

Hinata let go of the thoughts and focused her eyes into a pink haired medic that was grinning wide as she walked towards her. Sakura has her hair tied into a ponytail—she has grown her hair until it reached the middle of her back. Sakura was gone for more than a year and just came back to Konoha a few months ago. She was the head of the newly established medicine field in Suna and was about to return again to the land of sand after a few months of vacation.

She was also gorgeously tanned.

"Whoa. That looks heavy." Sakura observed. "Let me help you."

Hinata shook her head. "No…I can manage Sakura-chan. It's not that heavy."

"Where you going?"

"Back home. I am going to make homemade ice cream…I'm going to make it for us." Hinata giggled, loving Sakura's new look. "So say goodbye to our diets for now."

Sakura feigned shock. "You are evil Hinata! You are one the best cooks and I can't do anything but to eat your food because it is always so good! Gosh! You are going to ruin for all of us!"

They both laughed.

"I miss this…" Sakura sighed. "To laugh and smile with my friends…"

"Me too." Hinata admitted. "That's why you better finish your job back there in Suna and come back fast…though they say that the Kazekage was doing anything in his power to make you stay." The Hyuga gave the pinkette a knowing look.

Sakura blushed but recovered fast as she threw Hinata a comeback. "Oh come on…with that happy face, I know you have a love life too Hinata."

-o-o-o-

Sorry for the short chappie. Exam week…so sorry. The next chap would be more…I don't know…just more. And be ready for flashbacks guys…I'm going to drown you with it.

Still wanted to hear reviews though…*pretty please?

-crazygurl12