CCNote: Sorry for the delay everyone. I was very unmotivated to continue writing. Not just this story but everything. However, I'm back on the horse and ready to go full steam ahead. I kinda recaptured my love for writing and writing for myself. I feel terrible that I left this story for almost a month and I hope that you'll forgive the delay. I will say two things that reinspired me though! The first was all of the favorites/follows this story has been getting even with the lack of updates. Knowing people were waiting on me really helped. The second was a song called "I Will Go to You Like the First Snow" by Ailee. It's from the soundtrack for a Korean drama called Goblin. Truly a beautiful song and story that relit my creative fire. The final chapter(s)? of this story will be out soon so there won't be a long wait, I promise.

So please enjoy and don't forget to leave a review!

The night flies!

My life,

How much more of it remains?

(Masaoka Shiki)

The Beginning of the End

Rats.

That's all they were.

Vermin that continued to multiply and scattered when a flame was lit. It was of no matter to a man of his status. Even pests served his purposes, well…until they didn't.

Danzo sighed, tightening his grip on the hilt of his dagger. His bait shivered in his arms, atypical behavior for an Anbu. They were trained to accept death as easily as breathing. When Sai had been caught, he'd received his captors without fear and yet this one had not a shred of bravery. Just how lax had his recruits become? Despite this anomaly, it was amusing to watch Sasuke's face morph at his approach. He'd long thought that nothing short of his own death would get through to the brat. Mikoto had certainly nurtured her sense of defiance in the boy. Seeing as how he possessed enough of a sense of mind to cease his escape, perhaps the bait he'd caught was worth more alive than dead.

As the newly self-declared Emperor turned to bark orders, a strange look spread over Sasuke's features. This held even though two of his men had gotten close enough to tackle him to the ground. Behind him, his accomplices also fell. The Prince and his peasant whore. Some silver-haired man he didn't recognize.

Rats all of them.

Danzo curled his upper lip in distaste. He would have to clear out the palace accordingly. There was bound to be others that remained loyal to the deposed Prince and would likely seek revenge. In his arms, his bait whimpered at Sasuke being roughly restrained by his Anbu. His grip tightened.

"Don't worry. You will die by his side shortly, little rat."

They shivered even more at the sound of his voice, piquing his interest even more. Who was this worthless recruit? With his free hand, he pulled the heavy white mask from their face and was met with an unexpected sight. Uchiha Hinata stood in his arms, her pale eyes wide with fear and her teeth digging into her bottom lip to keep from screaming.

'Pathetic.'

…..

The Twenty-first Winter of the Taka

Imperial Courtyard

...

Seeing Hinata with a knife to her throat was more terrifying than he could have ever imagined. It made every cell in his body seize. He couldn't even breathe. When Danzo's men restrained him to his knees, he barely felt the sting of the rocks that dug into his skin. The shouting in his ears was barely a dull thrum. It was only when Danzo had turned slightly to bark an order that all of his thoughts came rushing back at once.

The glint of the blade was a stark contrast against her pale skin and he wanted nothing more than to push it away. He wasn't sure where he found the strength from to push off the Anbu attempting to restrain him but somehow he did. One step at a time, he launched himself forward. Although Hinata had been frozen with fear as well, she gripped Danzo's wrist and caught him off guard enough to push him away. Red filled his vision as she was cut but not deep enough to stop her from moving. Blood dripped down her neck as she reached out to him, her arms desperately outstretched.

He was tackled before he could reach her and she…she fell at his feet from a sharp blow to her head.

"Hinata!" he shouted. Her name falling from his lips desperately. "Hinata!"

She didn't move at all, her face buried in the ground.

"Hinata!"

"Silence Uchiha!" Danzo growled as two of his men rushed forward to pick the unconscious woman up. "Try anything again and you will watch her die before you do. Round them all up. Let's go!"

Violently, the Anbu he'd previously shook off restrained his arms behind his back and lifted him to his feet. Their hands gripped tightly to his biceps as if they were prepared for him to escape again at a moment's notice. He wouldn't. There was no point now.

To his left and right Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura were all dragged and restrained by the Anbu. Escape had been fleeting and ultimately futile. The people closest to him had risked everything to get out and were going to pay dearly for it. Hinata groaned as her handlers dragged her limp body to the end of the line. Her pale eyes struggled to open, clearly disoriented but in too much pain to decipher what had happened.

A fire in the pit of his stomach rolled when her head lolled forward, hair obscuring her from view. He wished for nothing more than to run to her. To kill the men who had hurt her. How dare they lay a hand on what was his. How dare they hurt her. His anger continued to grow with each second that passed. His skin itched and the desire for blood was strong. As the five of them were lifted to their feet, Danzo smiled- his eyes greedily scanning their group.

"I believe you will all be compliant now." He chuckled.

His only response was Naruto spitting blood at his feet.

"Fuck you."

"That mouth you inherited from your mother is going to get you in trouble one day my prince." Danzo frowned. "But I will make you a deal one more time because I am forgiving."

The man then reached out to cup Sakura's bruised face, his upper lip curling with disgust.

"Step down publically and I will let your friends go. I will even allow your 'wife' live."

"Naruto no-"

Sakura's outburst was cut off by a sharp slap that sounded louder than when they were imprisoned. Out of the corner of Sasuke's eye, he was able to see her stumble forward but was quickly restrained by her handlers. Although Naruto was unable to see the strike, the sound of his struggle on the other side of Kakashi was futile at best. Danzo simply rolled his eyes and took a step back.

"You'll have plenty of time to think about your answer on the way. We have a trial to attend."

…

The Sixteenth Winter of the Suzume

Imperial Palace

...

"The sun is rising quickly."

She could already see the horizon shifting to its pale shades through the dusty palace windows. They were rapidly running out of time. Although Itachi didn't need her to point out such an obvious observation. He had eyes of his own. It was her nervousness that kept her trying to fill the oppressive silence.

"Maybe they found him."

Or maybe they didn't. Once more, she didn't need to say that.

"Commander…" she started but he stopped in his tracks, his back tense.

He held up his hand to silence her and faintly, her ears pricked up at the sound of marching. It was far but distinct. There was a gathering happening and fast.

Without a word, Itachi took off in their direction and Hanabi followed hot on his heels. It could be nothing. It had to be nothing. However, no matter how many times she repeated this mantra in her mind the sinking feeling in her stomach refused to dissipate. The marching grew more prominent as they ran through the narrow winding halls of the palace. Once outside, they found themselves facing dozen of masked Anbu all filling out of the courtyard. For a moment, Hanabi felt her heart seize but she had to remind herself that she looked just like the rest of them. They had no cause for suspicion.

Taking a deep breath, she followed Itachi's lead and melted into the marching crowd, his back always within her line of sight. He seemed to care little for his own life but she was there to watch his back. Literally and figuratively.

The other Anbu luckily saw nothing amiss with two stragglers joining them as many pairs peeled off from the shadows to melt into the growing contingency. They marched as one through the royal courtyard and through the imposing gates. Down the hill and through the town. Their group was silent as they marched but their footsteps alerted all who were awake at this hour that something as amiss. People peeked through their windows and doors as they passed, frozen mid-task. Hanabi chanced a glance behind her to find more masked people but even more surprised were regular citizens. This wasn't good. Still she continued to follow the flow of the group into the market square where less than twenty-four hours ago she'd been reunited with her sister.

It felt like a lifetime ago.

Shaking her head, Hanabi came to a halt when the group of Anbu stopped their procession to circle around a hastily makeshift platform in the center of the square. There on the stage were a few Anbu still putting together an eery construction. Heavy ropes were slung over the top of a long wooden beam. When they came down halfway, there was a strange loop at the end of them. If the marching and hastily assemble stage weren't weird enough, the rope certainly was. Warily Hanabi tore her eyes away from the platform and back to Itachi who was already weaving his way out of the crowd.

Mentally she cursed his haste but followed his path anyway. Through the bodies of black and past civilians. The square had filled up quickly and was only going to become more crowded with each minute that passed. Once on the outskirts, they stopped at a house. Hanabi had no time to question Itachi's intentions before he'd knocked on the door. It opened only a crack and then fully to show a frightened old man and woman. They quickly stepped aside to allow them entry into the house, their eyes wide and trained on the white masks they wore. Without a word, Itachi brushed past them and took to their steep, narrow stairs to the floor above.

"Commander." She huffed once the old couple was well out of earshot but he ignored her.

"Itachi!"

Still nothing.

Hanabi stood worriedly on the narrow staircase, his back becoming distant as he climbed. What was he doing? Her sister was waiting for her to return and so was her newborn niece. They didn't have time to waste intruding in someone else's home. They needed to get out before all hell broke loose. Hesitantly, Hanabi turned back to where she knew the entrance of the house was. She could faintly hear the old couple arguing amongst themselves about what to do. If one of the elders left the house in a panic, they would be found out for the fake Anbu they were. She should slip out before then. She could make it back to the Uchiha Manor on her own and Itachi…

Itachi would be left behind.

''Dammit Commander.'' Hanabi cursed under her breath.

Ripping off her mask, her feet were already ascending the steps two at a time.

'Take care of him even when he can't take care of himself.'

The man had no sense of self-preservation. She couldn't make heads or tails of his motivations half the time. He was a frustrating enigma whose actions had landed her in more precarious situations than she'd ever dreamed of. Yet she climbed the stairs two at a time to reach him without a second thought. No matter what, even if it went against her own self-interest …she would follow him.

It wasn't about being useful anymore.

It wasn't solely about a promise she made.

She cared about him a lot more than she should…

As she approached the door he'd flung open, she knew it was much more. Heart pounding in her ears, she entered the room and prepared herself for what was to come.

…..

The Twenty Seventh Winter of the Karasu

Imperial City

...

Itachi frowned as he surveyed the area from the second-floor window. There were too many people gathered and not enough time to form a solid plan. He needed a distraction…a way to stall this farce of a trial. The Uchiha turned away from the window and let out a slow, calming breath through his nose.

Danzo wanted to put on a performance. An extravagantly gruesome show of his power as the new Emperor. Those who crossed him would be dealt with accordingly and his brother was going to be made an example of. His very existence always went against the man...

…..The Shiro was alight with energy as people made preparations for the Shogunate's stay. He hadn't come around for nearly three years. Apparently, the Uchiha had fallen out of his close interest. Not that Itachi minded. The man brought too much chaos to the Shiro. Their staff always struggled to keep up with all of his particular demands. His parents acted oddly as well though he simply chalked that up to the fact that their marriage had been strained for a long time and the Shogunate's presence didn't help things.

Now in his eighth summer, he was old enough to notice the cracks in their façade but not to comprehend why. A large part of him didn't want to know. Itachi sighed as he slid open the door to his room, hoping to find respite from the bustling Shiro halls. All thoughts of peace were dashed however by his little brother immediately attacking him the moment the door was open.

"Nii-san! Nii-san!" Sasuke whined, albeit muffled by his chest.

"Sasuke?" Itachi grunted from the impact. "What's wrong?"

Instead of answering the four-year-old simply held on tighter. Worried, Itachi was able to pry him away and crouch down so that he was at eye level with the smaller Uchiha. His dark eyes were filled with fat tears that threatened to spill over. Sasuke wasn't much of a crier now that he was older. Whatever had happened must have been unsettling.

"You have to tell me what happened otoutou. I can't help you if you don't say anything." Itachi said calmly and earned a shaky nod.

"That man." He whimpered. "He wants to take me away."

"Man…Danzo-sama?"

"I don't wanna go!"

Itachi frowned, unsure of what to do or say in this situation. Why did the Shogunate wish to take Sasuke away? Unfortunately, he wasn't given much time to figure that out before their mother could be heard in the hall.

"Sasuke! Sasuke, where are you?"

At the sound of her voice, Sasuke broke away from him immediately to seek solace in her arms. He bounded out of the room and Itachi followed shortly after. Although his mother was typically a calm and collected woman she appeared anything but at the moment. Her hair mused and kimono out of shape, she looked very little like the regal matriarch she was supposed to be. Sasuke, of course, took no notice of how disheveled she was since he was in her arms, his personal happy place. From what Itachi could see, she was happy with him as well.

"Okaa-san." He said, announcing his presence much to her surprise.

Her eyes widened slightly upon seeing him and she tried to use her free hand to tuck loose hair behind her ear.

"Itachi…you're not training?"

"I finished early." He replied before gesturing to his now dry-eyed brother. "Sasuke seems to think that he's being taken away."

A sad look flashed over his mother's features for a second, just a fleeting moment, before she crouched down to place Sasuke on the ground. He protested the loss but stopped the moment Itachi put a hand on his head. Now was not the time for tantrums.

"You're not being taken away." She said and Sasuke's face immediately brightened. "We have all been invited to go to the capital to pay our respects to the royal family."

"We're all going?" he asked excitedly and Mikoto nodded with a small smile.

"Yes. We'll leave in a day so go find all of the toys you wish to bring with you."

Of course Sasuke didn't need to be told twice to complete such a task. He was already scampering down the hall before their mother could rise to her feet. Once he was out of sight, his mother's smile vanished.

"I wasn't aware we had a trip." Itachi said flatly.

His father had an intense training regime for him and there had been no indication that it would be lessened for a trip.

"We didn't have one planned. Not originally." His mother with a heavy sigh. "Sasuke walked in on the servants packing his trunks earlier. They must have told him about Danzo's intentions."

"Intentions?"

Was that man really trying to take Sasuke away? Sensing his concern, his mother shook her head.

"Don't worry. The plan has changed." She said before throwing a glance over her shoulder to ensure that they were alone. "Itachi…this may be too much for you to understand right now but listen to me carefully."

Solemnly the eight-year-old nodded. Whatever it was she had to say must be important.

"Danzo is not to be trusted. Anything and everything he does is to serve his own purposes-"

"Okaa-san?" Itachi asked as she suddenly stiffed and looked over her shoulder.

There was no one there but the air felt tense. Oppressive. Without a word, his mother ushered him back into his room and slid the door closed behind them. Confused, Itachi opened his mouth to question her actions but the serious look in her eyes kept him silent.

"One day you will be the leader of this clan. You will become a great warrior who will lead men just as others have done before you. When you make decisions, they will affect the lives of everyone long after your father and I are gone but there is one thing I need you to promise me."

Itachi nodded. There was nothing his mother could ask of him that he wouldn't do.

"Protect Sasuke." She whispered breathlessly. "No matter what happens. No matter what Danzo or your father tries to do."

"But-"

"Itachi promise me."

He was confused.

Why was his mother so afraid? Still, he'd made a promise to himself long ago to always be there for his little brother- as troublesome as he tended to be at times. No matter what, Sasuke would always be safe with him…..

...'No matter what.'

He'd broken that promise. In a vain effort to keep his father under control, he'd left Sasuke alone. Exposed to the machinations of the Uchiha elders and the capricious whims of Danzo. He'd left him alone but he was here now. He had to do something. The small touch of a hand on his arm jolted the Uchiha from his thoughts and he turned to find Hanabi staring back at him. Concern filled her pale eyes over his absentmindedness but his own were drawn to the full quiver of arrows on her back. Quickly a plan fell into place and as the wheels turned in his head, Hanabi's worry faded away. Her lips quirked up in a knowing smirk, arms crossed over her chest.

"I know that look. You've got a plan."

"Not exactly." He trailed off and she cocked her head slightly to the side.

"Good enough."

Itachi scoffed slightly at her foolhardiness and turned his attention back to the window. Outside, the crowd was growing restless with anticipation. One could only keep a crowd of this side contained for so long. As the anxiety among the people rose, Danzo took his place on the stage before the gallows with an air of self-assured victory. At the sight of the man, Itachi clenched his fist- itching for a chance to wipe the smug look off of his face. Though the spiteful surge was sharp, Itachi suppressed it. He needed his head to be clear if his suspicions were to be correct.

On stage, Danzo was unaware of his murderous intent. Instead, he raised his hand as a signal and five startling figures were restrained and trotted out one by one onto the stage. Kakashi was first, followed by a vaguely familiar pink-haired woman. Then came Sai, who looked utterly bored while he was being marched to his execution. When the rope was placed around his neck, he didn't even blink. After him came Hinata with her head held high but staunchly avoiding looking at the crowd that had been assembled.

"Hinata! How! Why?" Hanabi breathed, panic seeping into her words. "We left her at the Manor! I don't understand-"

"She left when we did." Itachi interrupted and Hanabi whirled on him angrily.

"That was her? You knew and you still let her go with us?!"

"I wouldn't have been able to stop her any more than I could have stopped you."

Although Hinata had been withdrawn during their initial planning, he knew that she'd been listening intently. It wasn't hard to piece together who their new addition was when their footsteps weren't as light as the rest of the group and a naive nervousness poured off of them in waves.

"She almost fell off the wall! She isn't equipped to handle something like this and now look at her!" Hanabi hissed as she turned back to the window. "She can't die. Not now."

"Your sister is more resilient than you give her credit for."

Hinata wasn't going to die today. Not if he could help it. Calmly he placed a hand on Hanabi's shoulder and turned her back to look at him. Outside, the crowd grew silent as a thick rope was lowered around Hinata's neck.

"Give me cover until you're out of arrows." He said and was rewarded with a stiff nod.

"And then?"

"Get to safety."

It was clear the minute the words left his lips that she didn't agree with him. What more could she do though? This was barely a plan. Yet instead of protesting she simply removed her full quiver and bow from her back, turning to get in position in the window. As she knocked her first arrow, he caught a glimpse of the wisp of a girl she'd been in the Spring. She could barely hold a bow straight yet here she was. She was a competent warrior- far from being the best but the only one he'd want watching his back at a time like this. In time she could be unrivaled...

He wanted to be there to see it.

"When this is over, I have something I want to say to you." Hanabi said softly, pulling her string tight.

She let it go by the time he'd reached the door, the screams of confused panic from the people below were enough to tell him that her aim was true.

"So don't do anything reckless or I swear I'll chase you down from this life into your next."

"I'll hold you to that."

The Uchiha didn't believe in reincarnation. The Hyuuga did. A large part of him hoped that the Hyuuga were right...

'From this life into the next.'

…..

The Twentieth Winter of the Hato

Imperial City

...

There were so many people. Anbu. Palace guards. Citizens of Konoha. She didn't look at them but she knew they were there. Watching. Waiting. All of them were there to witness the demise of an empire, whether they knew it or not. Each step she took was harder than the last. The most she could do was hold her head straight and try to pretend that the crowd wasn't there. It wouldn't be right if the last thing she did on this earth was to succumb to her fear. Mikoto had taught her better than that. It was almost morbidly fitting that she would leave the same way her mentor had.

'One day, when you're ready, I hope you'll think of me as your okaa-san.'

If only she'd told her how much she'd meant to her while she'd been alive. If only.

Her breath hitched in her throat when the heavy rope was lowered over her head.

"Loyal citizens of Konoha. I come to you during a time of great mourning." Danzo said, his voice booming over a crowd that had grown silent. "Yesterday, our Emperor and Empress were tragically murdered. The coup was led by the group of vermin you see behind me. It is due to my skill that they were caught before they could turn this country inside out. They will be dealt with according to the law but I would like for our Prince, who is thankfully safe, to say a few words."

Hinata swallowed nervously as the man in question was allowed to walk freely on the stage. At some point before they'd been escorted to the gallows they must have thrown a dark cloak over his body to hide the disdainful state of his clothes. The dirt on his face had also been wiped away, leaving him to appear normal to the crowd. It wouldn't do for Danzo to have him looking abused.

While the Anbu stood still, the few palace guards that were sprinkled within the crowd visibly looked alarmed. Regular citizens twittered excitedly to see their Prince in the flesh and safe from the horrible fate that had befallen his parents. A few started hurling insults at her and the rest of their group in the gallows. How could they conspire against the royal family? They were traitors that deserved to die. Hanging was not a fitting enough end for what they'd done. It was then that Danzo put his arm around Naruto and drew him in a little closer.

"Go on my Prince. Assure the people of their safety from these traitors."

A Traitor.

Is this what she would die as?

The only thing that gave her comfort at this moment was knowing that Hanabi and Itachi had somehow managed to make it out of the palace without being captured. With any luck, they would return to the Manor. There they would find the place empty save for Kurenai and her niece. They would wait and wait and eventually, news would reach them about the execution. Knowing Itachi, they would escape for the Shiro before the city was invaded and, if the gods remained on their side, they would make it.

'They will make it.'

Hinata let out a small, shaky breath through her nose. Them being safe was all she could ask for. Tearing her eyes away from Naruto and the bloodthirsty crowd, she looked to her left to find Sasuke. He stood straight and proud as if he didn't have a noose around his neck. Even when facing his own demise, he still managed to make her heart skip a beat. If there was anything she regretted, it was not telling him that.

Despite her anger…

Despite her frustration…

Despite the fact that she was about to die…

She loved him.

Blinking back tears, Hinata closed her eyes and did her best to not allow her knees to buckle under fear when the rope tightened. She would not leave this life afraid. She took a deep breath-

Pfft!

The sharp sound of something fast whizzing past her head alarmed her, the hot feeling on blood spilling onto her shoulder even moreso. The heavy body of the Anbu guarding her fell in a heap to the side and screams of terror filled the square. As the rope around her neck grew slack, Hinata immediately looked to Sasuke who appeared just as shocked as she was. Their surprise wasn't allowed to settle for long before another arrow was sent whizzing onto the stage.

The black and white wall of Anbu that made up the first few rows of spectators dispersed into the crowd to find the source. Oddly enough many of them didn't make it far before being impaled by the imperial swords of palace guards. Danzo let go of Naruto in favor of taking cover from his Anbu who immediately covered him with their own bodies to be used as shields. He barked orders for his men to follow. To restrain her. To hang them. Yet the second someone tried to touch her, they were shot down shortly after. Two bloody bodies laid at her feet, their faces covered by eery white masks. The sight alone was enough to make her want to faint but she had to stay conscious.

She had to.

"Hinata!" Sasuke shouted, snapping her from her daze.

"Sasuke." She whispered though she was positive he couldn't hear her over the chaotic din that surrounded them.

In the next second, all five nooses were released from the gallows one by one. Their executioners falling dead to their knees. Without wasting a second, she ran to Sasuke before one of the many Anbu climbing on stage could stop her. More were felled by arrows when they tried to. The wooden platform creaked from the added weight of palace guards trying to climb it.

"Danzo!" a deep gravelly voice shouted as they rushed past her. "This ends now!"

Confused, Hinata barely had time to turn around as Fugaku ran, his sword brandished proudly.

'No!' Hinata thought, her voice caught in her throat.

The former Uchiha patriarch was unwell. He'd barely been able to walk the day steadily before and now he was charging headfirst into battle. This wasn't just any battle though. The moment he'd yelled more, Anbu swiftly circled around Danzo, obscuring him from view and any potential assault. This charge was suicidal. He had to realize that. As her worry mounted at his insurmountable odds, another figure followed his lead. Itachi.

Hinata took a step forward absently but was stopped by a firm grip on her forearm. She couldn't even turn to see who it was before a sharp blade sliced through the rope on her wrist. Once free, she spun to see Sasuke but his tight hold kept her from moving further.

"Sasuke-" she started, surprised by his presence.

When had he gotten free? How did he get a katana?

"Hinata. Go now."

The Uchiha shook her head at his demand. Where? Where was she to go without him? The whole point of the mission had been to get him free and now that he was she couldn't leave him. She wouldn't. Her staunch protest was on the tip of her tongue but Sasuke pressing his lips against hers kept them at bay. His kiss was forceful and desperate and over just as quick as it started.

As soon as he let her go a familiar hand grabbed her other wrist and dragged her away. She tried to struggle against them to get back to Sasuke who was quickly melting into the fray of battle but her captor stayed firm. They tugged so hard that they nearly dislocated her shoulder, but it was enough to get her attention. Met with desperate green eyes that mirrored her own sadness. Hinata stopped struggling. They were of no use here were they? She would only get in the way. An unspoken understanding passed between the two of them before she nodded her head.

It was then that the bells sounded. With the Emperor and Empress already dead, they could only mean one thing.

Konoha was under attack.

To be continued…..

War
stood at the end of the hall
in the long shadows

(Watanabe Hakusen)