Hey guys! chapter 100! I do hope you guys enjoy this one, it's not got any action really but it does have some nice fluff and such so I hope you enjoy that. As always read and review/

Naruto was left in peace when Jiraiya and Tsunade left, taking the chance to get some well earned sleep.

She was woken up to a firm knocking on her bedroom door and she groaned softly to herself as she woke, smushing her face into the pillow before calling out, her voice muffled, "Come in!" and she lifted her head when she heard the click of the door opening and the sound of little wheels squeaking.

She turned around, eyes widening when she saw that it was Itachi.

He was pale, but he looked better than he had when she'd last seen him, he was leaning heavily on his IV stand, connected to it by a needle in his hand.

He gave a slight smile as he moved into the room, "I thought I'd take the chance to see you before Sasuke-kun and Sakura-san attack you." that made Naruto laugh and the blonde shifted so that she was sat up, legs tucked under herself, wrapping the blankets around her shoulders.

"Come in and sit down." she could see the healing marks around his eyes from the eye transplants, though he wasn't wearing a blindfold-he was blinking a lot though, eyes flicking around, taking in everything.

"Rin-san told us what happened. Sasuke-kun and Sakura-san almost broke the door down to get in but she and Karin-chan stopped them."

"Right." Naruto rubbed the back of her neck, "Well I'm okay so they don't really need to worry much."

"Are you?" the question wasn't at all judgemental, "He threatened your family."

Naruto stared at Itachi for a moment before shrugging, "I... I will be okay." she settled on after a moment, "Physically I'm fine. I admit seeing him around them was.. upsetting but I can handle it."

"I have no doubt." Itachi nodded, "You're strong. Only a fool would doubt you." he paused, "I wanted to thank you. Before you see Sasuke-kun... I doubt I'll get much chance to talk about this once you've reunited with your friends but I wanted to thank you for bringing me back to Konoha. It wasn't what I wanted but you saved my life. I'm still recovering from my sickness but I will recover, because of you. Tsunade-sama says that if I'd left it much longer the damage done to my lungs would have been irreparable."

"I was worried even before the fight." Naruto admitted, "You were coughing during the night it woke me up."

"I know." Itachi paused, "Thank you for giving me your coat that night."

"You were sick, it was the only thing I could think of to do to keep you from getting worse since I had no idea what was wrong with you and I could tell that you wouldn't tell me."

"I shouldn't have agreed to take on Kakuzu alone. I was incredibly lucky you came when you did or he'd have taken my heart."

"I know." Naruto looked down, "I should have went straight to you after I took on Hidan. Instead I checked on Fu-chan first-"

"Naruto-san you did what you thought best. I'm glad that you made sure Fu-san was okay."

"But I nearly didn't arrive in time-"

"But you did make it Naruto-san." Itachi shook his head, "You saved my life-and don't think I've forgotten, you were covered in blood yourself. What happened during your fight with Hidan."

"I... got hurt a bit but I heal fast-"

"How badly?" Itachi's brows furrowed and he frowned slightly, "How badly were you injured when you were busy saving my life."

"Hidan had a Jutsu." Naruto stated after a moment, biting her lip, "Made himself a living voodoo doll, and I was... on the other end. He kept stabbing himself-"

"And it injured you." Itachi looked tense, "Hidan is sadistic that-"

"I was okay-I managed to seal him up, I just... got a bit bloody is all. Nothing fatal."

Itachi's look was disbelieving and Naruto flushed, grabbing one of the pillows from the bed and tossing it at him. "Don't look at me like that."

Itachi's lips twitched slightly and he chuckled as he moved to the chair and sat, wheeling his IV stand with him.

"I do apologize Naruto-san." he paused, "I also wanted to..." he slipped his hand into his pocket, pulling out a familiar forehead protector. "To return this to you. Sasuke-kun said that it was one of your parents."

"Yeah, that one was my moms."

"I see." Itachi held it out and Naruto shook her head.

"No, you can keep it until you get given a new one Itachi-san. After everything you've done you deserve to have a forehead protector to show your loyalty to your village."

"Most of what I've done hasn't been good." Itachi admitted softly.

"Yeah, but you did your best and that's what counts."

"I won't get a new one until I'm declared medically fit and with how seriously Sakura-san and Tsunade-sama are taking all this that might be a month or two."

"That's fine. I have my dads forehead protector it's not like it'd leave me without one at all."

"Thank you." Itachi let out a breath, "I suppose in that case I should put it on."

"I should say so." Naruto grinned, "C'mon Itachi-san. Let me see it on."

Itachi's lips twitched but he nodded, carefully putting on the forehead protector and fastening it securely, and Naruto could see something shifting in him, slotting into place.

He probably hadn't even really accepted that it was missing but it had been.

"How does it feel then Itachi-san?"

"Good." Itachi admitted, "It feels like home."

Naruto shifted slightly, "So you've already been all nice and asked me how I am, but I haven't asked how you've been yet-it's gotta be weird coming home and all."

"It's been strange." Itachi stated slowly, "People in Konoha know what happened so I haven't been treated poorly but I believe most of the villagers don't know what to think and how to act-not that I've left the hospital much, I convinced Sakura-san to let me leave once to get some food with Sasuke-kun."

"Bet it's nice being around Sasuke again."

"It's good." Itachi admitted, "Leaving him behind was my greatest regret. After all that happened he was the one that I missed most of all. He's given me a chance I didn't deserve after what I did to him. I'm lucky that my actions didn't do more damage than they have-and that he had you to counter it somewhat."

"Sasuke-kun is like a brother to me." Naruto smiled faintly at Itachi, "I'm always gonna be there for him."

"I appreciate that. Truly I do." Itachi nodded, "There are times that it's hard and neither of us know how to behave with one another but it gets easier each day. I know Sasuke-kun's had support from Sakura-san and Karin-san."

"I'm glad they've been there for him."

"As am I. Karin-san seemed to bully him into taking care of himself when he gets distracted obsessing over my recovery-only yesterday she punched him in the head for forgetting to eat because he was making sure I was okay."

Naruto laughed brightly, "Why am I not surprised that even when they're sort of friends Sasuke and Karin are beating each other up?"

"It does seem that they tend to enjoy insulting each other." Itachi admitted, a fond note to his voice. "I'm glad he has so many people to support him."

Naruto nodded "Team Seven's a pretty good support network and Karin's been around for years so she might as well be a part of it-I dunno about their other teammate Sai, never met him."

"I believe I've seen him briefly." Itachi said after a moment of thought, "He annoys Karin-san a lot."

"Good to know." Naruto laughed, "From what I know he was Root."

"That was glaringly obvious." Itachi shook his head, "He seems to struggle to understand emotions, he lacks tact I could tell that much. He came to get Sasuke to come and meet for training when Sasuke was visiting and he couldn't understand why Sasuke refused to go. Karin ended up smacking him over the head and asking what he'd do if his brother was in hospital and Sai said something along the lines of 'As I am not a medic I would see no point in lingering and wasting time'."

Naruto laughed, "Yeah, yeah that definitely shows zero understanding of how people who are well adjusted function."

"Though I admit I'm likely not the best person to base judge in any case." Itachi conceded, "Though I am trying to adjust."

"You'll get there." Naruto grinned wryly before tilting her head, "So Sasuke-kun has a good support network... what about you. And I don't mean including Sasuke."

Itachi's faint smile faltered. "I've spoken with Tsunade-sama about my situation-and with your mother and Kakashi-san."

"So are they your support network?" Naruto pushed gently, "Can you picture yourself going to them if you're struggling with the personal stuff?"

"No." Itachi admitted, "But then I only ever had Shisui when I was younger."

"The one who-"

"I didn't kill him. Not exactly." Itachi's voice was almost hesitant as he admitted that "But I blamed myself for his death. I was too slow to stop him from jumping. His last act was to hand me his eye and I was too slow to stop him from jumping. I thought... I felt responsible. It never... I don't believe any Uchiha before Sasuke-kun realized that it was activated by the trauma and grief of loss rather than being responsible for it." Itachi admitted, "I truly believed that was what activated it when I told Sasuke-kun that."

"Still think you were dumb as hell." Naruto remarked, "Well intentioned but dumb."

"Yes well, even us geniuses can make mistakes at times-"

"Awe, were you calling me a genius?"

"I suppose I was." Itachi chuckled, "Which is strange given the fact that you didn't even know which direction Taki was-"

"Oi." Naruto grabbed the second pillow from the bed and tossed it at him, and much to her smug amusement he let it hit him, simply raising an eyebrow, lips twitching again. Which she'd been aiming for, trying to distract him from the depressing thoughts.

"I was simply stating a fact. You ran the wrong way-"

"Hush up before I throw another pillow at you."

"How? You've already thrown the only pillows you had."

"... Itachi-san can you toss me a pillow?" the laugh was soft, but it was there, and the smile on Itachi's lips was genuine as he shook his head.

"Naruto-san you're ridiculous."

"And proud." Naruto poked her tongue out at Itachi.

"You're very dignified for our future Kage."

"You know it." Naruto gave a mock salute. "Not that I know when I'll become the Hokage. Baa-chan wants to make sure I'm ready first I think. And I
mean, I've made a lot of mistakes lately."

"Given the mistakes some Kages have made in the past I wouldn't bee too hard on yourself Naruto-san."

"Yeah but I want to be better-"

"And you will be, because of how much you want it. Besides you'll hardly be alone. I have no doubt that you'll have your mother and Kakashi-san to support you, as well as Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama and your friends."

"Yeah... I just.. it's scary, thinking of how much I'll be responsible for. Baa-chan will definitely be helping me but Ero Sennin will be busy providing intel and stuff and my mom's probably busy with the hospital... as for Sakura-chan and Sasuke-kun they'll be busy with the hospital and training and missions, same with Karin-chan I think. And Kakashi-sensei will be needed for missions and to train Sasuke-kun's team."

"I see." Itachi nodded, "You can't keep your friends from the areas where they're strongest. What about Sandaime-sama? I know he's still in the village though I haven't seen him."

"I'm not so sure I trust his judgement." Naruto admitted softly, "He let Danzo get away with too much, he didn't punish him enough for his actions towards you and your family."

"What would you have done?" Itachi's voice was curious.

"I can't say." Naruto shifted uncomfortably, "I'd like to think that I would have never let it get to that stage... but I can't say for sure if I'd have noticed it or not, what Danzo was doing, I don't know how subtle he was but... I mean it's hard to imagine not noticing that they were being forced out and I'd have never stood for that. Even knowing it was a Uchiha behind Kurama's attack I wouldn't allow the whole clan to be treated with suspicion, I like to think I'd have stopped Danzo before it ever got that bad."

"I think you would have." Itachi said after a long moment, watching her almost curiously, "There's something about you Naruto-chan. You're so determined to do what's right."

"I just worry that I might be too soft at times." Naruto paused, " Itachi-san you... you want peace too don't you?"

Itachi blinked, a surprised look on his face before he nodded, "Yes. Yes I do, why do you ask?"

"I think I'll need all of the help I can get when the time comes. Do you think you'd be willing to sometimes act as my advisor?"

"I..." Itachi paused before nodding, "It would be an honor Naruto-san. Thank you."

"Hah, an honour my butt, I'll be making you make all the tough decisions while I relax Itachi-san."

Naruto joked brightly, a smile on her lips, and Itachi laughed again, louder this time.

"I might not know you well but I know that's not true, it doesn't take much to see that you're incredibly hard working Naruto-san. Half of my job would probably be ordering you to take a break."

"I..." Naruto paused, "Admittedly there have been occasions where my mom or Ero Sennin had to drag me inside because I've trained for days at a time but you have no point, I shall deny it forever." she laughed at Itachi's rolled eyes.

"If you say so Naruto-san." Itachi's voice was deadpan, "Bu-" there was a loud knocking on the door and then it was flung open and a familiar figure almost fell into the room.