A masked man is growling to himself, wondering what the hell has happened. While he did not hear the full conversation, he heard enough. They mentioned his name, his real name, and they knew of his crimes. The Akatsuki cloaks are hard to miss, so he knows that the two people he saw were, in fact, Itachi and Kisame. If Itachi is back in the picture, this can only mean bad things.

First however, he has to figure out who that girl is; from his standpoint it looked as though Itachi deferred to her.

If only he had heard more than a sliver of the conversation between the shinobi, he would know. But he was not going to risk coming too close to an empty compound with several very powerful shinobi inside.

.

There are three people who are studying a map, their only source of light a candle that Jiraiya got from somewhere. The place is eery, although the site of a massacre at night tends to be less than soothing.

"In the sewers." Orochimaru states this matter of factly, as if it is in no way suspicious that he knows these things. He points to a map, and traces a line with his elegant fingers. "They run through here."

Jiraiya hands him a crayon and tells him to write it because there is no way he is going to remember this off of the top of his head. When given an affronted look from the snake sannin, he just sticks his tongue out. "It's so you don't stab me with anything pointy, Oro."

Tsunade is in the corner of the room listening to the plans. It is actually pretty simple, and effective. It also does not involve letting all of the animals in Training Ground 44 out; Naruto is still pouting about that one. She looks over at her former teammates, and smiles. It has been a long time since they came together like this, even if it is under strenuous and dire circumstances.

Katsuyu, who is sitting on her shoulder, wiggles her eyestalks. "I can do this, Tsunade-sama." The slug nods to her master and leaves in smoke.

.

The spot closest to the window, where intruders would most likely try to come in through, is occupied by Sakura. Itachi is in the spot closest to the door. Sasuke is in between them, in the safest spot possible. It is warm, between the two bodies, and he remembers missing the embrace of family.

.

Sakura's parents are not fools. They know something is strange about their child, something that causes a disconnect between her and everybody else. So, when Sakura wakes up and looks them in the eyes for the first time without fear or weariness (for them, as if their child is afraid of hurting them), they do not question the two boys in her room.

Both know what love looks like, and their daughter's is fierce. Hers, in this moment, is one that has nothing to do with romance, but is just as strong. Although they have no idea who the elder one is, nor why the boys came, it is obvious that they are under Sakura's care. And Sakura takes care of her own.

.

Itachi wakes up to the smell of food. At first he is confused, but then remembers his migration to Sakura's house last night. The girl is already up, and smiles at him.

"Good morning, otouto." He is poked on the forehead, and it feels comforting. A look passes between the two, and he knows that she was the one to bring him solace after his nightmare. No words are said, but his thanks is heard all the same. "There is breakfast in the kitchen. We should eat."

.

Warm meals with family. It is something that Itachi has missed. He does not question the way that Sakura's parents do not seem fazed by the fact that their child has spent the night on the floor with two boys who climbed through her window; knowing her, it is probably not the most surprising thing that she has done.

Her mother waves at both brothers with a strange familiarity for one that has never met him, and her father makes an approving nod. There are five plates in the table.

.

While Sakura has a plan on how to get Danzo out of the way, there is the Obito factor that she has not been prepared for. If she is right, then the lack of effect that the sharingan has on her will be a huge advantage for them, if it comes to blows.

Still. The man who has called himself Madara is powerful, and she cannot underestimate him just because of her advantage. In the few years before her death, he did become more rash in his decisions; he might be able to be lured out again by anger. If he is though, the fallout from that is undecided.

Not to mention, what exactly can trigger his rage.

She takes a calming breath. One thing at a time.

Sakura puts on her best clothes and leaves with her parents to see the Hokage's inauguration.

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There were a lot of words thrown around, ones like 'establishing trust' and 'connect with the people' and 'it will endear her to the village'. No matter how much the planners seemed to think this would work, Danzo is nothing but annoyed.

A slug wiggles up to him, and greets him in a voice that does not match its appearance at all. "Thank you for coming to the Godaime's Inauguration! I will show you to your seat, Danzo-sama." At least it was polite.

Looking around him, he does have to admit that the tacky publicity stunt is working. People are laughing and becoming more open to the sudden new Hokage because of her sociable summons. Even the children are conversing with the slimy things.

"I heard that the new Hokage's a princess!" He hears a young girl squeak.

"Well, people do call her that sometimes." And there's another slug, not complaining about how the girl is petting it like a puppy.

Danzo hates that this is working.

.

The slugs are everywhere, and the whole village is practically saturated in its calming chakra. Nobody can sense a minuscule Katsuyu break from the crowd.