Itachi was given the tour of the newly-remodeled main house of the Uchiha compound, the house he and Sasuke had grown up in. He was told that it was his for as long as he wanted it. Sasuke and his girlfriend, Haru, had remodeled it with the intention of moving into it if they ever got married, and they currently were residing in the secondary house. The main house was already furnished, an altar for his and Sasuke's parents in the main living room. Sasuke sent Haru to the market to attempt to get food and toiletries for Itachi and Akahana, but Konoha was truly in chaos. Many shops were boarded up, and others were vandalized. Every villager he saw had some sort of miserable look on their faces, mask or no mask. Some thug-looking teens were hanging around an alley nearby. Things really had gone to Hell in a handbasket since he had died.

"So," he said as he perched himself down on the front porch of the main house, "you're still playing house with Orochimaru's ice princess?"

Sasuke grunted as he sat down beside him. "She's actually my ice princess, so watch your damn mouth."

"Hn. If it makes you happy." He kept his eyes straight ahead at the compound gates. "I know you weren't expecting this to happen. But I wasn't, either."

A minute or two passed by before Sasuke finally spoke again: "I honestly don't think that it'll be a bad thing, but… it'll definitely be an adjustment."

Itachi didn't take his eyes off the entrance to the compound. "Why are you waiting for her?" his brother continued. "I'm just saying, you aren't the type to get attached—"

"I'm not attached." Itachi's voice was tense. "Since I've come back, I've been… seeing things."

Out of his line of sight, Sasuke raised a brow. "Seeing things?" He reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let me guess—blood and darkness and gore, right?"

Itachi snapped his head to face his brother, brows knitting together with suspicion. Sasuke kept a blank expression as he continued: "I have your eyes, y'know. I dreamed about what you've seen, and… and about her."

"The darkness doesn't touch her." Itachi swallowed, shifting his gaze to the dirt at his feet. "I want to understand why."

"Well, she brought you back; maybe that's the only reason."

"I don't think it's that simple."

He heard his younger brother snort. "Whatever, man, just don't brood and overthink about it. The world has changed a whole lot since you passed, and this virus business is destroying life as we know it."

"Speaking of which, where did this virus even come from?"

Sasuke suddenly ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. "We honestly don't know. According to the reports from other villages, travelers showed up and were hospitalized when they arrived. And then it just… it just spread."

"They're coming."

Itachi straightened as he saw Naruto and Akahana, both donning their masks, come into view. Akahana was clutching her silver attaché case, the case that now seemed to hold the lifeline for Konoha.

"She looks upset."

Itachi stood. "Yeah. She does, doesn't she?"

He made his way over, watching Akahana mumble a "thank you" and bow deeply to the young Hokage. When she looked at Itachi, she smiled under her mask, but he could tell it was forced; he wasn't sure how he knew, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"So, um, can you show me to where I'll be staying?" she asked quietly. "I need to put these away, and I'd like to get something to eat."

Silently, Itachi stepped to the side and motioned for her to follow. She nodded and they walked back to the main house, where Sasuke still sat, observing them with a peculiar expression on his face.

Itachi was mulling over how to ask her what had happened. She was quiet again… she returned to her bubbly nature for a moment when he showed her the master bedroom with an attached, modern bathroom, marveling at how new everything looked. She removed her pack from her shoulder and delicately placed it on the ground.

"Take your armor off and relax," he told her. "When Sasuke's girlfriend gets back, you can take a shower, eat dinner, and get some rest."

"Okay." Her smile didn't reach her eyes again. She undid the ribbons holding her mask in peace. "So where will you sleep, if I have such a big room?"

He chuckled. "I'll be down the hall, in my old room," he replied. "But for now, I'm going to go spend some time with my brother." He turned towards the door and paused. "You're welcome to join us, if you're up to it."

"No, that's alright," she said with a sigh. "After my talk with the Hokage, I need to sit and think."

What was this feeling in his chest? Disappointment? Surely that wasn't it. "I'll introduce you to Haru when she returns." He walked out and closed the door behind him, waiting silently for a few seconds before he took a step. Behind the door, he swore he heard a muffled sob, and his eyes widened slightly. He turned his head back towards the door.

"How can they be so unfair," her voice sounded, muffled by the door between them. "This isn't right… all those poor villagers…"

He wanted to go back in there and talk to her. He even found himself reaching for the door, but he stopped halfway, grabbing his wrist with his other hand. Get a hold of yourself, Itachi, he thought, brows furrowing. You barely know this girl. Let her be.

It took a surprisingly tremendous amount of willpower to walk away, but he knew that right now he needed to go be with Sasuke.

Maybe it would help him to stop seeing the all-too-familiar bloodstains on the walls and the floor.

Stains of the blood that he'd shed, all those years ago.

Dinner went by smoothly. Akahana liked Haru—she was talkative, and funny. It had felt even better to take a long, hot bath, using her chakra to fix the knots in her back muscles. Now she sat outside, gazing up at the starry sky, swaying her bare feet back and forth. Her hair was slightly tousled, and she was wearing gray shorts that barely reached the middle of her thighs. Beneath a black shirt that hung off of one shoulder, she wore chest bindings that all samurai wore under their armor… but they helped her very little. The tiny slit of a crescent moon seemed to mock her, hanging high in the sky among the thousands of shimmering stars.

"Are you going to tell me what's on your mind, or do I have to drag it out of you?"

She started at Itachi's voice, heart leaping into her throat. Why on earth would she let her guard down so easily? She must really be exhausted.

Akahana twisted around to find him standing in the open doorway, shoulder leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed. His long, raven-black hair almost reached his arms, bangs swaying with the slight breeze. He donned a black shirt and black loose-fitting pajama pants, and his feet were bare. His birthmarked face wore an expression she couldn't quite read, dark eyes somehow glinting in the starlight.

She did her best to smile at him. "You scared me," she said. "You can't sleep, either?"

He sighed, and walked over. He leaned down and sat beside her, looking up at the sky. "Don't avoid the question," he replied. "You've been upset all evening, and now you're out here in the middle of the night instead of resting after a long journey."

She sighed, looking down at her bare, dangling feet beneath her. "I was just thinking about my conversation with the Hokage."

"About the vaccines?"

"Yes." She knitted her brows, pain welling up in her gut. "I… I'm to start distributing the vaccine the day after tomorrow. The Hokage is waiting on certain Shinobi to return from assignments."

"And?"

Could she trust him? He seemed smart enough. Maybe he could help her come up with a solution… but did it even matter?

"I'm supposed to be objective about all of this," she breathed. She felt hot tears stinging her eyes. "It isn't my job to get involved with your country's affairs." She looked in his direction. "Itachi, can I trust you?"

His eyes widened a little when their eyes finally met. Seconds seemed to stretch by. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but then closed it again, regaining his composure and nodding firmly.

She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. "I'm not entirely sure why he told me this, but the Hokage and this village's council had a meeting about the vaccine before I arrived." She found herself looking up at the sky and blinking furiously. "Shinobi, the council, and other officials—are top priority, and then whatever's left—if there's any left… then the villagers can receive the vaccine, too." She gripped the porch on either side of her, the coolness of the wood beneath her palms doing nothing to soothe her. "Children first, of course, then adults if they're lucky."

She tensed, dropping her head down and squeezing her eyes shut. "How am I supposed to be objective about this? I've seen how large Konoha is. There isn't nearly enough, and more people are going to die." A hot tear slid down her cheek, and then another. "And when the news breaks out that there isn't enough… things will just get worse!"

Her voice broke, and a sob ripped its way out of her throat. She couldn't save anyone. What was she supposed to do, just go back home and let everyone die?

She felt a warm hand over hers, and she gasped. She opened her eyes and looked at Itachi. His expression was softened, hesitation clear in his eyes.

"Sorry," she muttered. "I know this isn't your problem, either." When she tried to pull her hand back, he only gripped it tighter.

"Then why don't you stay, and do something about it?" he asked. Even his voice was softer.

She sniffled. "What?"

"Akahana, you and I don't know each other, but I'm going to tell you now that if you want to change this, change it."

She felt more tears coming. "I don't know how, Itachi."

His grip on her hand loosened, but this time she clasped his hand back. She craved the comfort, tiny as it was.

Itachi sighed and shook his head. "Not yet, you don't." he looked up to the sky again. "If you want me to help, you and I will come up with a plan."

"A plan?" Oh, she sounded like such a child and she hated it. She was an adult, for crying out loud. She shouldn't even be feeling like this. It wasn't the samurai way.

But her heart, the healer in her, wanted to save everyone.

"Yes, we can discuss it tomorrow, but you need to get some sleep."

With her free hand, she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Sorry for crying," she said quietly.

"Stop apologizing."

A few seconds passed. "Itachi?" they were both staring at the moon.

"Hm?"

"Can you… can you stay out here with me a bit longer?"

She felt his grip on her hand tighten. "Only for a few minutes," he answered. "We have a busy day tomorrow, even if it is just brainstorming."

"Right." She tried to muster up her samurai courage. They sat outside, listening to the cicadas and holding hands, like they'd been friends for forever. And at some point, she felt better. She even swore he'd smiled at her later when he walked her back to her bedroom and made his way down the hall.

He's such a weird guy, she thought as she climbed into the large bed. But at least he's been nice, even to a complete stranger like me.

Exhaustion came over her in waves as soon as she settled into the sheets, and as her cerulean eyes closed, she couldn't help but wonder about the Uchiha brothers' crimson eyes. She'd only seen them for moments at a time, but she was sure they were real.

Maybe she'd ask Itachi about it tomorrow, after they came up with a plan to save everyone in Konoha, and not just the village's Shinobi.