I'm going to be completely honest with you all. My inspiration for this story is pretty much dead, but I'm continuing it in hopes that it'll suddenly pick back up. If you all have any requests or ideas for the direction of the story, feel free to comment or PM me. I'll continue to update regaurdless, but if anyone has something they're interested in seeing, it might spark back my inspiration or break down on my writers block for quicker updates. I really am sorry about the terrible update routine, but this year has been one huge disaster for obvious reasons as well as personal. I hope you're all still enjoying the story and my mood hasn't ruined it. I apologize if it is taking a toll on the writing.

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It didn't take long for Itachi and Kisame to realize that they needed to have more people on the job. The tracks were fake, the villages were all on high alert as two of the Kages were assassinated, and now apparently Itachi's sickness was choosing to peaken as he put so much extra strain on it. Kisame held his unwilling partner up by one of his arms as the Uchiha violently coughed up blood. "Itachi, we need to take a break. If we run while rested, we'll go twice as fast than if we ran while winded and ill."

It was a cold day in hell when Kisame became the voice of reason for the duo. "I told you, I'm fine," he growled, yanking his arm away, very uncharacteristically. "We can't just stop to sip tea while Sasuke's out there, possibly dead or dying. We know he's hurt, given he was interrogated by the sand. He's skilled for his age, but if he finds himself lost and hurt, there is no village in their right mind who would offer help instead of attack. Everyone has heard about the 'surprisingly young ninja' who attacked Suna.

Despite his words, luckily, Kisame was able to get Itachi to sit down beside him on a log after a moment of refusal. "Listen, if we're going off what we heard, no one's mentioned finding the kid. So it's pretty obvious, either he hasn't been found, or the village that found him has something to hide from the others. Something they're worried that the kid could squeal about." the shark ninja trying to think over what on earth it could be.

He didn't have to think too hard however, his attention pulled to Itachi as he saw the younger ninja's pupil's dilation. Kisame got a cold chill-- he had never seen Itachi act like this. Silence filled the air, despite Kisame being sure that Itachi knew exactly what was going on.

After a long moment of internal doubt, Itachi's voice came, quiet and unsure. Nothing like Kisame had ever heard before. "Kisame, you love me, right?"

Kisame sent him a look of bafflement, his blue skin tinting to purple at the question. What the hell did this have to do with Sasuke be captured? "What kind of idiotic question is that?" he growled.

Itachi only sent him an icy glare as he heard him, so Kisame swallowed down his confusion. "Yes. I do," he growled, never having openly said it much despite their closeness.

Kisame's world seemed to freeze as he heard Itachi speak. "I've been lying to you."

The mist ninja felt his muscles tensing up, faint veins appearing in his eyes. He tried to keep his temper under check, something he had been forced to learn while living in the same house as so many children. "About what?" he seethed, having to resist grabbing his sword out of mere instinct.

Itachi's Sharingan blazed, though, it was more out of instinctual activation than him preparing for battle. The raven-haired man had to admit-- he hadn't been expecting Kisame to hear him out. He had expected to have to pull him into an illusion and kill him. A strange knot of guilt welled up in his stomach, "I didn't only kill my clan to gain power or because they threatened Sasuke." he admitted, "I was ordered to. By the leaf village." his eyes barely held contact with Kisame's, his shame overwhelming.

He knew he could take the shark ninja, even in his weakened state. That didn't mean he wanted to. "Then I left, to join the Akatsuki. As a double agent. I lied to you." the Uchiha hissed, hating himself with each word he spoke. Maybe if he hadn't obeyed, Sasuke would be safe. Maybe if he hadn't obeyed, they could have run away. Maybe, if he hadn't obeyed, he would have never met Kisame to lie to and betray.

"So, it's all been a lie then," Kisame concluded, staring him down coldly. Itachi didn't like it. Kisame was supposed to be the overly aggressive one. He was supposed to attack Itachi before he could explain. He wasn't supposed to be this understanding. "The missions. The healing. The conversations. Us. It was all a lie. All to get more information." Kisame laughed, catching Itachi off guard. "No, it wasn't. You aren't like that, Itachi. You value your comrades. You value the support. You value us." he repeated as if trying to convince himself.

A curt nod caught him off guard, however. "I do."

Kisame looked over at him, once more bewildered through his anger. "What do you mean, you do?"

"I do. I value you very much. I value the Akatsuki very much. Even more so than the village. That's why..." he closed his eyes briefly, "That's why I've been feeding the village false information. It's why I've been saying that there hasn't been much movement within the organization. Because I value you all. I know you all. I know that you're mostly good people. It's why I believe that you guys can change. There is no need for you all to be killed. I never kill without purpose."

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Kakashi had to admit, it was amusing to watch the young Uchiha. The way he thought he was being sneaky, it was almost like watching a cat or small child. Given, Sasuke was very talented for his age, but he was no match for a well-trained ninja such as himself.

He watched as each morning, Sasuke would wake up early on purpose. Or, perhaps the elder ninja just slept in. He couldn't be sure. Sasuke had snooped the place out pretty good on the first day. Not that Kakashi really had anything to hide. His Icha Icha books were lined up by his couch, so the only thing that could possibly be considered hide-worthy was out in the open. Sasuke hadn't paid them much attention since they were so out in the open.

Sasuke had stopped his search as soon as he noticed Kakashi. The silver-haired man noticed the way Sasuke would eat anything. He noticed the way Sasuke would force down sweet foods he was given the first few days, despite clearly hating them. If Kakashi had to guess, he didn't trust his surroundings so he was eating as much as he was given.

It was about three days in when Kakashi finally got some meaningful conversations with the kid. Up to that point, it was mostly just grunts and growls for responses. It was when he was reading his books on the couch, having just got back from a day of gate duty. Sasuke had sat on the other side of the couch, glaring him down.

Kakashi gave a heavy sigh. "Yes?" glancing up from his book only momentarily to seem uninterested.

"Take me out into the village."

Alright, well, whatever he was expecting, it wasn't that. Kakashi only rose his single visible brow, "Now, why would I do that. I know you know that you're here as a suspect. Why would I go through the trouble to take you out into the village?" he hummed.

"Because you know I was involved." the boy spoke confidently. Kakashi could only blink. This boy was quite the firecracker, wasn't he? "I can tell you're watching me, and I can tell you don't feel hostile or defensive against me, even if you're trying to force yourself to. Your core chakra doesn't lie. Not to mention, it's clear you've figured out that I'm the boy that ran away from Suna. The one caught by the guards there. I'm sure it would be one of the first bits of information they gave to Konoha. You're all just trying to figure out what to do with me. So, it's doubtless that I'm involved."

He snapped his book close, "So, this makes you think I'll let you into the village? Personal feelings aside, it would be a foolish move. Especially now that you've admitted to being involved." he noted.

"Actually, it would be quite smart of your village." Sasuke corrected. "Surely, if I am guilty, I'll have backup. If that backup hears that I'm here, it'll draw that person's attention and have them return. They'd undoubtedly be looking across the nations to see where I ran off to. It would lead you straight to the ones in charge."

Kakashi's lips tightened into a tight frown. Well, that could work both ways. It would draw the ones who killed the Hokage's attention, yes, but would the village be in any shape to take them? They all wanted the man responsible taken down, yes, but at what cost? This wasn't for him to decide-- this was a council matter.