Hey, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, it's not got too much action but I personally think you guys might enjoy it for certain reasons that will become clear! Anyways I love you all and the fact that you're all still reading, as always I read all of the reviews and love them even if I don't respond to them anymore because it got waaay too much for me. Anyways, read away.

Kakashi and Rin had taken the chance to go and check on Sakura and Sasuke while Naruto discussed the plans for her training trip with Tsunade.

When the door opened Naruto half expected it to be them-but she gave a broad grin when she saw a familiar face, "Ero Sennin!"

"Hey brat." the old man smiled warmly as he made it way towards Naruto and ruffling her hair when he was close enough,

"How you feeling." she could sense an undercurrent of worry and she rolled her eyes, determined to ease it.

"I feel fine. It was barely a scratch-"

"I can see the blood on your clothes brat."

Naruto blinked and looked at her clothes properly, her eyes narrowing, "That bastard made me bleed on my coat-"

"Is that really your biggest concern?" Tsunade looked like she was tempted to laugh.

"Baa-chan, I am completely serious when I say that if he'd have actually damaged it I'd be on my way to find him and stab him right now." Naruto said with a straight face, "He's ruined my top."

"Eh we can buy you new clothes, you'll probably need some anyway-"

"For our training trip?"

"Damn straight. So Tsunade-hime told you then."

"Yeah." Naruto nodded, "So, what sort of things do I need to pack-"

"Just pack enough clothes and your usual supplies." Jiraiya ordered, "All of your fuinjutsu supplies and such kid."

"How long will the trip be?"

"That depends on a lot of things." Jiraiya grinned, "Though Tsunade-hime's put a limit of two years on it."

"Why?" Naruto tilted her head and turned her gaze to Tsunade, who was smirking.

"Why do you think brat? You'll need some personal training from me so that you know all of your responsibilities when I dump the hat on you-"

"Oh!" Naruto's eyes widened and she grinned widely, "I'll have to make sure I'm super strong by then in that case-"

"Damn right."

Tsunade's gaze swung to Jiraiya, "You hear that Jiraiya? You've gotta get my successor in top shape."

"Of course Godaime-sama." Jiraiya was laughing and grinning, "I'll be the best sensei ever."

"You better be!"

"He'll do fine." Naruto grinned widely. "He trained my dad right?"

"Exactly I'll do fine!"

"And I swear if I find out you waste time on this trip peeking in on the hotsprings I will pound your face into the ground!"

"Hime I won't even be able to for the first part of the trip you know where I'm taking the brat-"

"Wait! Baa-chan gets to know but I don't?"

"Of course kid, he had to ask my permission and tell me where he was taking you, you're one of my Shinobi after all."
Tsunade looked amused.

"But I'm the one going on this trip-"

"Well brat, I have one thing to say to you." the woman flicked Naruto's nose. "Tough luck."

"Ugh!" Naruto flailed, "Baa-chan that's just mean!"

"Sorry brat, but Jiraiya wants to surprise you."

"Oh that's no fair-"

"It's somewhere I took your father a long time ago-"

"You did?" Naruto's eyes widened, "Oh wow." she grinned excitedly, "I get to train like my dad?"

"Damn straight you do kid. He'd be so proud of you."

"Of course he would, Minato would have been proud even if she never passed the Academy exam, knowing his baby girl was being trained for the hat? He'd have lost his damn mind, he'd be running around irritating all the other Kages by screaming how perfect his daughter was-"

"No, no that would be Kushina-chan. Minato-kun would have just smirked and been ridiculously proud on the inside."

"I bow to your knowledge of your student and his wife." Tsunade conceded, a fond grin on her lips.

"As you should." Jiraiya shot Tsunade a smirk, "Or I'll make it three years-"

"Don't you dare!" she glared at Jiraiya, "I don't want to wear this hat any longer than I have to. Not that it isn't an honour but it's never been what I wanted and you know that!"

"Four ye-" Jiraiya hit the door hard enough that it was knocked down and he hit the wall behind it.

Tsunade twitched slightly, her arm outstretched still as she didn't look away from Naruto.

"Your sensei may need a hand getting up."

"How many times have you punched him through things now?"

"Naruto-chan. I lost count at three hundred and sixty seven."

"Do you think you'll ever knock sense into him?"

"Probably not." the woman sighed, "Alas the idiot never seems to learn-"

"TSUNADE-HIME!" Jiraiya had sat up and he was clutching at the fresh lump forming on his head, crying dramatically, "How
could you be so cruel."

"I am the only normal one left from my team."

"I dunno." Naruto scrambled off the bed, a grin on her lips as she spoke, "I dunno if I'd call your gambling habit normal-"

"Why you little-" Tsunade lunged and Naruto cackled with laughter as she Hirashined away, landing on the top of her dads head with bright laughter bubbling past her lips.

Then she let her laughter fade as she stared over the village. Her village. It was hers, it always would be now even if she hadn't been raised here. Sure there were issues and stains on it's history but she was sure as hell going to heal the ones that
Tsunade didn't manage to heal.

She'd be the best damn Hokage the village had ever seen with the help of her friends and family.

She let out a breath as she closed her eyes, the wind swirling her coat around her as she stood.

Usually she was so active, full of energy, never wanting to stop but this moment, this moment she wished could last a lifetime, not the handful of hours she'd probably have before someone came to fetch her.

She did stand there for a good hour or so-and she stiffened when she half felt half heard someone arriving behind her.

She wasn't a sensor in the same way as Karin. She couldn't recognize chakra, but she could sense the thick dark shame and pain and guilt all directed inward that was incredibly familiar.

She didn't turn her head as she spoke. "Itachi-san?"

"Nohara-san." the voice was almost hesitant. "My brother... I know Orochimaru sent someone to convince him to leave the village."

"He's okay. In the hospital, got drugged."

"He didn't agree then."

"He chose his family." the words were pointed and Naruto turned her head to take in the sight of Itachi.

He was no longer wearing the black and red Akatsuki robes, he'd exchanged them for a simple black cloak over a black shirt
and midnight blue pants, though his headband was still on his head, a deep scratch through the middle of it.

His face was even paler that had been-and that was saying something given the fact that he was a Uchiha and most of the
Uchiha from what Naruto knew had a very pale complexion.

And his eyes had bags under them.

He looked sick, looked utterly exhausted.

Naruto found herself frowning softly.

"I still don't like you."

"I would hardly expect you to-"

"Your intentions were good but what you did to Sasuke was so wrong it's insane."

"I've considered that." Itachi admitted, "I was-"

"A terrified kid?"

"Everyone knows now. What really happened."

"Danzo will pay for what he did. Baa-chan has people hunting for him even now."

"Good."

"What happens next then?" Naruto crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing Itachi wearily as she watched him.

"How did my little brother react?"

"Badly." Naruto shrugged, "About how you'd expect someone to react to finding out that the worst day of their life wasn't what they thought it was. He had a breakdown."

"You were there for him." it wasn't a question but there was a glint of relief in Itachi's eyes.

"Someone had to be." the words weren't accusing, but they were sharp and Itachi flinched as if he'd been struck. Good. Even if he'd been a kid she was still beyond pissed at what he'd done to her brother.

"Thank you." Itachi looked away, "And... I assume you had something to do with clearing my name?" there was an undercurrent of curiosity in his voice and Naruto gave a very small shrug, shaking her head.

"I can sense negative emotions, perk of the fuzzball living inside of me-"

"Shut up brat."

"And you sensed my emotions when we met."

"I sensed that most of it was directed inwards. Not often you feel something like that I tell you that much." the blonde frowned to herself, "Never felt anyone hating themselves that much, and then when I mentioned that to the Sandaime he felt guilty so Sasuke-kun and I pushed."

"And he told you."

"Everything he knew and the things he suspected-he said he believed Danzo may have attacked Shisui-san and you killed him as a mercy kill."

"I don't talk about what happened." Itachi's voice was tight, "I have never spoken of it with anyone."

"You didn't know it could be woken by the grief rather than the actual killing of your best friend?"

"Yes. I had no idea until you figured it out." Itachi admitted, "If I'd have known-"

"It would was probably for the best if he was already dying, make it quick and as painless as possible."

"I was worried what would happen if Sasuke found out the truth."

"He reacted pretty badly. Lots of anger and grief and pain."

"Of course."

"I had to get him out of there, so that he could let out the emotions. He ended up breaking down in my arms Itachi-san."

"I know you don't care for my opinion but I will never stop being grateful that you were there for him."

"He wants you home-"

"Home." Itachi's expression was startled, "He wants me home-"

"Why do you think we insisted that your name be cleared Itachi-san. Sasuke-kun wants to bring you home."

"I..."

"You owe him that much. Maybe you don't deserve his forgiveness but he's willing to give it to you and if you don't come home I think that might hurt him even more. He's safe now and it's not like you're a member of the Akatsuki anymore right?"

"I can't come home-"

"So you'll just abandon him again when he's just hoping that he can have his family back?" Naruto demanded, her expression filled with pain and anger. "I know you were just a kid I can understand why you did what you did but you're old enough now to know better you can't fail him like this aga-"

"I won't come home until I know he's safe. Safe from Danzo, from Orochimaru and Madara."

"Madara?" Naruto frowned, "You know he's not Madara right?"

Itachi's eyes narrowed, "I believed he was when we first met. I met him in Konoha. I was... concerned, given his history, or what I believed was his history."

"He helped you." Naruto realised. And that was interesting.

"I thought he was Madara Uchiha and I believed he planned on harming the village. I offered him the chance at vengeance on the clan that betrayed him in return for sparing the village."

"He's not Madara." Naruto shook her head."

"I figured that out based on his recent actions." Itachi shook his head, "His reaction to Kakashi. To you. It was all too personal."

"His name is Obito. I don't know how closely related you are but there is a relation." Naruto admitted, giving a small shrug.

"I know. Uchiha Obito, once the student of the Yondaime-" Itachi's gaze flicked over Naruto's coat, "And teammate of Hatake Kakashi... and a woman who's name I didn't recall but I presume is Nohara something."

"Looks like you really are a genius like they say." Naruto sighed, "You know Sasuke-kun won't be happy if you leave."

"You're not strong enough to stop me yet."

"Yet?"

"I have no doubt that you have the potential. Just as my brother does."

"He could use a good teacher-not that Kakashi-sensei isn't good but he's learning to control his Mangekyou himself so I mean-"

"Not until I know he's safe."

"You can't beat Obito. He's too fast he can turn intangible. You can't beat someone if you can't hit them."

"You have someone who can hit him." Itachi said carefully, "His.. each Mangekyou is different. Shisui's eyes gave him the ultimate Genjutsu... Obito's give him the abilities you're talking of. And Obito only has one eye."

"Oh kami." Naruto's eyes widened, "Kakashi-sensei has Obito's eye. His Mangekyou will have the same ability." she realized. "Kakashi-sensei will be the one who can beat Obito's Kamui."

"He needs to train with it. He can train with Sasuke."

"You should stay and help them-protect them from up close rather than afar-"

"No. No I can't. Not until Orochimaru and Danzo are dealt with at least."

"At least stay and talk to Sasuke-kun."

"I can't." Itachi shook his head, "If I do I might not be able to leave again. Thank you for looking after him Nohara-san. I owe you a lot." then he was gone, leaves swirling where he'd been stood.

Naruto let out a breath, staring after him and shaking her head.

Well fuck.

How was she going to explain this to Sasuke-kun?