Music: Halo – Beyonce

Wind beneath my wings – Bette Midler

Big Girls don't cry – Fergie

Before you walk out my life - Monica

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

CHAPTER 10

He focusses on her and his smile grows slightly, as if he just heard a funny story. "We are Baa-chan. We are both weapons, only difference is he was born with his abilities and chose to be one for Zabuza and I? I-I was made one by the very village I love so dearly. Worst thing about that is they did it before I could even speak for myself and then…then they hated me for it. At least now I get why they all treat me differently. And to think…my best friend in the worlds' family are the people who can supposedly control this demon inside me. Very convenient right?" He doesn't wait to hear the response as he turns and runs from the room.

"Oh, Naruto…" he is gone before she can even begin to explain. Her heart feels like its breaking into a thousand pieces…again when she saw the look in his eyes. The betrayal and hurt he must've felt she cannot even imagine. She moves from behind her desk but gets halted by Jiraiya as he grabs her wrist. "Let me go…I need to go after him! I need to explain…I …I can't lose him too!" Looking up into her old team mates gaze, her own now brimming with tears, she pleas for him to release her.

"Hime, let him go. Let him first cool down. This is a lot to absorb, but he will pull through and come around. That knucklehead knows no other way but straight through, or did you forget?" Jiraiya soothes her with his words while pulling her hesitant form into his arms. Not sure if it is the sake they shared or her sudden change in character, but he is surprised she allows herself to be drawn into his embrace, accepting his silent comforting. He is even more surprised when he feels her silent tears soak his chest.

He runs down the street absorbed in his own thoughts and fighting off the sudden extreme waves of emotion threatening to drown him, oblivious of where he is heading when he runs straight into Hinata knocking her over. "Hinata! S-sorry…I-I'm so sorry" his feeble apology to her before sprinting off again.

"Naruto, a-are y-you okay?" she finally stutters out as her cheeks flame red at the sight of him, but he already placed nearly half the street between them. "NARUTO…" she shouts after him.

She doesn't know what happened but she knows Naruto, she has watched him enough (borderline stalked him more accurately) for long enough to know when he is upset. And she hasn't seen him this disturbed since before their academy days. Knowing she needs to help him somehow; she sets off into the direction of the Uchiha district.

He hears her calling his name and a part of him knows she only wants to help; she always is so very kind towards him, his heart warms slightly at the thought of her constant tenderness over the years. She was the first and the only one who never looked at him like the rest did, before Team 7, but right now he just doesn't care. The hurt, the pain, the…anger he feels is just too much and he just needs to get away. He keeps running and before he realises it, he is standing in the academy grounds.

More specifically the swing he used to sit on, alone as the other kids played and avoided him. The remembrance bringing another sharp stab in his chest as his anger pushes to take over. He kicks the swing in his frustration and sets it off on a wild oscillation, moving back and forth crazily at first but slows down quickly without any further energy to keep up its momentum.

He watches and as it slows down so does his emotions become a little more subdued. He looks up to the dark but quiet sky now, at best the down pour has ceased.

Just then Iruka steps closer having watched him from the side, "Well looks like the swing doesn't have any more fight left."

"Iruka-sensei! I-I'm sorry" he stammers out, his dropping as he can't even think to confront his first real special bond when he feels like this, he is just about to turn away and run when he feels a familiar hand resting on his shoulder.

"Let's get some Ichiraku ramen. I haven't seen you in so long and I've missed you. My treat…and you can have anything you like and even seconds if you're up for it." Irika smiles kindly, knowing that something must've upset the teen and knowing just how to bribe him into opening up.

-O-

Hinata reaches the main house just as Sakura steps out from the front door, Mikoto behind her with the twins clinging to her legs. "Mikoto-sama!" she gasps as she bends forwards resting her hands on her knees while trying to catch her breath. "I-it's N-Naruto…he …he…n-needs…h-help."

"Hinata, what do you mean? What's wrong? What happened to him?" Sakura asks as she immediately stands next to the girl with her hand on her back rubbing soothingly.

"Come inside you two, I'll get Fugaku" Mikoto says as she turns around to disappear down the corridor to his study.

Lifting her head with tears threatening to spill from her soft lilac orbs, breathing a little easier finally Hinata stutters out "S-Sakura, h-he looked s-so hurt…I-I d-don't know w-what happened. B-but h-he needs help."

-O-

Back in the apartment Itachi is stunned not only by the words that just fell from the beautiful woman's lips that is still in his lap, but also by the complete look of wonder in her eyes for him then. The look of admiration so clear and familiar but for the first time from somebody he actually wants, it settles in his chest flowering into hope, 'I have a chance, a hope to make you mine.'

Enthralled in his own thoughts and desires he fails to notice her features shift. Loneliness engulfing her eyes laced with pain, betrayal and anger, her mesmerising sight becomes anxious suddenly "We have to go." Her short command coupled with her suddenly edgy aura enough to jolt Itachi from his trance.

She is out of his lap before he can answer, leaving him once again feeling of bereaved of her close proximity, denying his growing craving to have her closer. "What is it, Hime?" he asks hoping his personal state is not quite as evident to her as her disturbed state is to him.

"Something is wrong…somebody needs me." her only response before the lotus bloom petals floating down replaces her presence before him.

With a shake of his head and almost a grunt he follows suite, blinking to where her signature emerged at the Hokage tower.

Appearing in the office in a flurry of lotus bloom petals, she finds Tsunade with red rimmed eyes and a sullen looking Jiraiya beside her behind the heavy desk. "Lady Tsunade, what happened?" her voice is soft but there is an underlying edge to it not missed by the two seasoned shinobi present.

"Why would you think something is wrong?" Tsunade asks her voice cracking slightly, more from the tears she swallowed than the ones she shed not too long ago.

"Lady Tsunade…please. I can feel your sorrow… your pain…your hopelessness." Nalina pleads softly, her hand moving to finger her chest where the crest is etched below the white red clan emblem - "I feel it here…" – and then to over her heart – "and here. Like it's my own. So please, what happened?"

Jiraiya eyes the dazzling girl before him, failing to fall into his usual state of charm around beautiful females, before he answers "Naruto left here in a …disturbed state." His eyes betraying his own turmoil inside that he hides too well for trained eyes, but not to Nalina.

Tsunade looks from Nalina to her team mate, a little confused but too preoccupied with her current state of emotions to actually heed the exchange (or lack thereof in Jiraiya's case) "We told him he is the Nine Tails Jinchuriki. He …he didn't take it well."

Just then Itachi drops inside the office from the window, still preferring to not use the door. Watching as Nalina absorbs the dark auras around her on instinct but also seeing how hard she is fighting to control something bigger.

"There is a door for a reason you know." Tsunade tries to growl out her annoyance but it just seems hollow.

Itachi bends respectfully in apology before glancing back to Nalina. He moves to her side and directs his gaze to the sage casually seated on the window behind the Hokage "Was it wise to disclose that to him now?"

They all feel Nalina's chakra flaring up, her anger unmistakable (Tsunade and Itachi both realise they have never seen or heard her angry before) "You're kidding me, right? Keeping it from him to begin with was the mistake. Having him endure all that hostility while growing up was the mistake. Having him grow up without knowing how much he is loved, was the mistake. Making him feel like an outcast and NOT giving him the reason why IS THE MISTAKE!" her voice climbing in octaves as she speaks to Itachi specifically.

Her chakra swirls and billows around her making her usually serene aura become turbulent and agitated, her eyes lose their usual tenderness seeming almost cold in comparison. She glances around herself seeing the surprise registered on the faces around her. Closing her eyes, she breaths deeply, her aura pulling into herself, taking a moment to calm herself enough before she continues. "I need to find him" she finally whispers, eyes still closed still continuing to draw her aura in to herself.

"Think that is wise right now Hime?" Itachi asks, more concerned with her unusual outburst than with a teen acting out. The thought that her powers may be escalating a very real possibility to him, his concern for her growing exponentially at the unknown that lies before them.

"It is Itachi…this village needs him. You need him…I need him" she answers. The effort to maintain her calm physically visible as she is vibrating from the restraint, she exercises not to mention the strain of dealing with the sudden onslaught of feeling coming everywhere and yet one specific spot within the village. 'I just need to focus on that, nothing else…that is where I am needed most now.'

-O-

Seated in Ichiraku each with a bowl of steaming ramen is Naruto and Iruka, the teen having caved under the duress of his old sensei earlier. Iruka does not miss the out of character way in which the young man moves around his noodles with his chopsticks, it makes him feel uneasy to see Naruto this despondent. Eventually he jokingly ventures "I was sure you would be on your fifth bowl by this time seeing as it's my treat."

The smile that forms is small and as listless as the voice that answers "I'm not really that hungry." Hoping his behaviour is not worrying the older man across from him, the last thing he wants is to upset the man who was willing to sacrifice his own life for a thieving prankster, becoming the second person to become precious to him.

"Oh? Are you having girl problems? Don't tell me you finally noticed the big crush Hinata has on you. Heaven knows, she's been nursing it for years now."

"What?! No! Besides…who could love somebody like me?"

"I do! And so many more, Naruto-chan." Nobody noticed the tiny frame enter the stall a few moments earlier, but everybody hears her conviction when she speaks "As does Iruka-sensei, and every single person you have ever taken the time to get to know." She kneels next to him by the end of it, consciously not touching him. She can feel his pain without having to touch him and it's causing her own emotions to run rampant, she can barely hold on to her rationality.

The look she shares with Iruka assures him that she is thankful for his assistance but she will be able to take things from here. Iruka, with hesitant look concedes with a gentle nod and sigh, he knows right now he is not the best suited to help Naruto out of this strange mind-set he is currently trapped in.

Turning her head to look back up to the teen Nalina smiles softly, her chakra pulsing soft waves around the corner of the counter they occupy. "We need to talk, can you spare me a moment…please?" Her gentle request at the end is in response to his expected decline.

He lets his eyes fall on her for the first time since she entered, and the look that swims in his eyes nearly tears her heart apart "Are you taking me back to the Uchiha's?" he asks flatly.

She unexpectedly grins "Well I do live there you know. Besides I heard Mikoto made onigiri especially for you so it would be a shame to have it go to waste. You know how she gets" rolling her eyes for emphasis with the last comment and allowing a little humour to colour her voice.

He unwilling smirks and a small chuckle escapes his lips despite his heavy mood "I think I already ate all my share earlier, even snagged two extra before…" he trails off as he remembers what came after his happy morning spent with the female who he looks to like a mother figure.

"You really think Mikoto would make your portion the same as everybody else's? You really don't know her all that well then. She always makes your share more than double she does for any of us" she adds light-heartedly, feeling his cheer return albeit only on the edges. She leans in closer as if to share a secret and whispers so only he can hear "Besides, I need some help with judging who makes the better dango…Itachi or Mikoto" she winks at the stunned blue-eyed young man. His eyes having doubled in size with the last bit of information.

It doesn't take them long to walk the short distance from the stall to the Uchiha compound. Drawing up to the gates she catches him staring at the clan emblem proudly on display. She takes out her pendant from within her clothes where it hangs on top of her carved marking. "I'm an outsider too you know. Think they just opened up their home to me because they have something to gain from me too?" She fingers it tenderly as her gaze moves from the trinket to him.

Her unexpected question completely throws the young man, 'How is it she knows how I'm feeling?' his thoughts in that moment but before he can even ask, she places her hand on his shoulder and speaks again.

"Naruto, right now you have a lot of emotions and questions to work through. How I know and why I do is very low at the bottom of that list. All I ask of you is to trust me. If you ever held my bond with you close to your heart, which I know you do, just…trust me. Please?"

They find themselves sitting in the small lounge within her hut with some tea not long after her earnest request. Naruto feels himself for some strange reason, more at peace and calm than he has been the entire afternoon. He eyes the hazel eyed girl from beneath his blonde lashes suspiciously "So… you have some weird power over other people's emotions too huh." More a statement than a question.

She eyes him right back not even bothering to hide her indignation "You really expect an answer from me? You honestly expect that if I knew that to be true, I would actually use it…on you of all people?" The hurt flitting through her eyes not concealed at all, like she usually plays situations such as these close to heart and very aloof "And here I was beginning to think we have much more in common than we initially thought."

He watches her closely, puzzlement easy to see "What do you mean we have more in common? We are nothing alike. You have awesome powers and you are easily trained, I struggle with everything and nothing really comes easy if I don't work at it continuously."

She looks at him and he sees (no, if he's honest he can feel it) her indignation rippling off her small form seated hands and feet on the couch next to him. "I know, you know that I know that deep down you know that stuff is not really all that important."

"Uhmmm…eh?!"

His confused and lost expression is enough to make Nalina explode into giggles that evolves into complete and utter guffaws, making her aura (her chakra has been a constant cloak since the morning) become an amplified mirror of her mirth. It folds over every living thing inside and out of the room, rolling out like a fluffy cover of buoyancy covering a wide range around the Uchiha home. Unseen to knowing eyes the meadow and garden just outside the wall and hut, bursts into life with low growing wood sorrel in white, pink and yellow; bright yellow dandelions covering the open areas with their splendour and Calendula (Marigolds) in bright orange and yellow dotted in between with their impressive double heads. Each flower with their size and colour blending in beautifully to create an enchanting scene.

Itachi notices the flowers blooming so abruptly in the garden next to the small hut and a painful tingle in his chest and a nagging thought in is head takes root. 'Is this the reaction he is able to illicit from her? Does she really have that ability? But… I thought that is only a myth!' the realisation and possibility hitting him like a punch to the gut.

Her laughter subsides as she holds her side with one hand and wipes away the tears with the other. "Never mind Naruto. Do you honestly, truly, deep down in your heart of hearts believe that power and fighting is the best way to solve anything?" Her gaze becoming sincere and urgent even as she looks deeply into his cerulean eyes.

He returns her gaze and in his pools of deep blue she can see the answer reflected, she feels it as true as if it were her own. "I don't." Naruto manages to choke out, he feels his aura almost clashing with hers. Her bright, blinding, happy mantle wrestling with his heavy dark one.

"I know. You see I know you and I didn't tell you this before but it's because of you that I am even here to begin with. That book I told you about? Well…it really actually has a lot to do with you and how you always…ALWAYS choose the other path. Even when faced with death or worse you still choose…LOVE. You as much as Mistress saved me back home. So, you see? I had to come and try to change things to make your happiness complete. But…this path you are on right now? It is also my doing…for coming so I'm sorry."

Her story continues as she explains how he inspired her with his determination and how his pure heart made her feel his hardships even through words. She carries on to explain how his parents made the ultimate sacrifice for him, their village and each other, how they did this to protect him – because even at his birth they saw something powerful within him, because they loved him more than their own lives. Because they knew he would protect all of Konoha and every single person there with everything he is. Her tale included how he was alone yes but never unloved, she highlights to him all the people he has now that is so very precious to him and to whom he is precious.

His eyes alight with wonderment, wanting to believe every single word passing from her lips. What her words fails to convey her aura ensures to transfer and clarify for him (him feeling it is so much easier than having his head try to explain it anyway).

"So you see? I am here to offer them another way but you…you were born to show it to them Naruto. Your heart is even purer than mine and I am sure if you had been born in this world before I was back home…your soul would've been the one to call out to Mistress and not mine. I draw strength from you. The powers you seem to think I possess are within you too and you've mastered them without even knowing it so I'm actually trying to catch up to you."

With this she inhales deeply, she's been talking so much her throat is dry but she knows this has to be done and cannot be rushed. She looks at the blonde-haired blue-eyed teen before her, eyes expectant and unbeknownst to her, there is an unexpected change to her.

"Nalina-chan…err…what's up with your eyes?"

-O-

After Nalina took Naruto with her Iruka is left feeling immensely agitated for the first time in a very long time. All he got from Naruto was that he came from the Hokage Tower, so whatever upset him so much must've happened there. Realising this he makes his way there at top speed, utilising his shinobi skills for something other than teaching for the first time in almost just as long. Finding Jiraiya and Tsunade in her office drinking does not sit well with him at all, and demands to know what distressed his favourite and beloved student so much.

"We had to tell him he is the Kyuubi vessel Iruka." Tsunade explains knowing and expecting the loving teacher to rip into her for being so callous. She is surprised when he seats himself opposite the desk, slumping his shoulders in an almost defeated manner.

"He hates me now. I should've been the one to tell him, since I was the one who convinced him Mizuki was just trying to manipulate him back then."

-O-

Sakura, Hinata, Mikoto and Fugaku is sitting in the lounge when Nalina brings Naruto back, taking him straight through to her quarters without a single word of explanation. The look she spares them however makes it understood that he needs time and space. They resign themselves to doing just that and keep themselves busy, but none of them think to leave the vicinity.

This results in Hinata and Sakura taking the twins for a walk outside, through the wooden door. When the meadow bursts into bloom they stand at the edge of the treeline, witnesses to the glorious spectacle unfolding before them. Instantly Keiko dashes off towards the flowers "Lina, Lina!" causing Aiko to chase after her chanting "Ane! Ane!"

As the teens run after the giggling little girls, they both feel the abundant ebullience that surrounds and penetrates them to their cores, infecting them and resulting in a complete euphoric high. The twins continue their garbled chant together "Lina! – Ane! ; Lina! – Ane!"

"You can play with her later Aiko, Keiko. Nalina is with Naruto-chan now." Sakura explains as she scoops up Keiko, who picks a few blooms, and runs after Aiko with Hinata chasing from the opposite direction trying to trap the little toddler.

Keiko looks quizzically at Sakura; her amber ringed soft onyx eyes burn with confusion. She brings the few blossoms in her hand closer to Sakura, nearly shoving them in her face completely "Lina!"

"What? What is it little Keiko? What are you trying to say?" Sakura manages between her incessant giggles and exhilaration.

Aiko brings Hinata to a stop before Sakura and her sister, a small stern look within her black depths. She stomps her little foot down and spins around arms outstretched towards the flowery meadow chanting "Ane, Ane, Ane, Ane…"

Hinata (having a little sister of her own) tries to interpret what they mean "D-did Nalina d-do this?"

Both the toddlers squeal in glee when the teens finally understand them, making Sakura's eyes bulge in surprise – or that is what Hinata thinks until she hands over the bouncing little girl. "Hinata, can you please take them home? I have something I have to fetch at the Hokage Tower. Tell Mikoto I'll be back as soon as I can."

In a flourish of cherry blossoms the pink haired medic vanishes leaving Hinata to herd the energetic girls back through the heavy wooden door.

-O-

"Where is it?" his elongated tongue snakes out to lick the man's cheek, dousing it in slimy saliva "I promise, if you tell us nobody else will be hurt."

"Come now, surely you don't expect us to believe you kept her here all that time but you did not think to harness her powers for yourselves. We mean to use it too. So spare yourself unnecessary pain and just hand it over. I won't ask again." His plant-like counterpart adds in as he strangles the last breath from the young boy he has trapped within his black vines.

"I-I s-swear! W-we k-know nothing of w-what you s-seek!" the terrified Moon Island monk offers, desperately trying to convince the two maniacs that just decimated the contents of the hall they currently occupy.

"Is that so? Then tell us…who does know! Who is the oldest monk here and where do we find him?" Orochimaru cleverly deduces and enquires, knowing that where they are now are mostly young, unseasoned monks and monks-in-training. People like them seldom if ever really find out about the older kinds of knowledge which they currently seek.

The young man being held down with constricting snakes shivers with fear "T-the oldest m-monk h-here lives deep i-in the m-mountain b-behind the main t-temple. H-his name is S-Sana, b-but nobody even k-knows if h-he's alive anymore. H-he hasn't b-been seen i-in y-years."

Their eyes meet across the small space they share with the last breathing witness between them and their orbs shine menacingly with the near victory at hand…it is within reach. They stand watching as the snakes begin to tighten their grip and the vipers launch at their flailing prey, pumping their lethal venom into his system. They turn around the moment the young man stills, his lifeless form and dead eyes staring back at them.

"Idiot! I said nobody else would get hurt, I didn't say you wouldn't die!"

-O-

The two Sannin and Iruka is still seated in the Hokage office, a new bottle of sake and three small cups now placed on the paper-laden desk between them, when a soft knock on the door is heard.

"Enter"

"Shishou" she bows and glancing around the room Sakura instantly takes in the state of it, her green eyes softening slightly as she sees the distress etched on both her sensei's faces. Under her arm is two very old scrolls from the archives that Nalina has not yet started on capturing digitally. "I thought you would like to know Naruto is safe with Nalina at the moment."

All three ninja's turn to look at her completely, relief washing over all their features bringing a smile to her own. "But Shishou, I need to have a word please" allowing her gaze to rest on the two men present.

Her eyebrow arches curiously, Tsunade nods buts direct her words to her present company only "I don't know about you but I'm heading to the Uchiha's now. First, I need to speak to my apprentice…in private."

Hearing the unspoken order both ninjas stand and bows before leaving her office, heading to the compound together.

"What is it Sakura? Is it Naruto?"

"No Shishou, he's safe. It's about Nalina. I…I think I have an idea of what powers she possesses" placing the ancient scrolls on the desk. "It's extremely rare and this is all I've ever encountered about it…anywhere. I think… I think she's an empath… with manifested powers."

The blonde's brows shoot up nearly to her hairline at this "Impossible! That kind of power is sheer myth! What makes you even think she has it to begin with?"

The pinkette inclines her head to the scrolls, she knows she is right and she has the proof to back it up "Look for yourself and then decide if I'm wrong. And…and I think I witnessed her manipulating nature earlier as she was speaking to Naruto too."

Hastily pulling the two fragile scrolls forward the blonde begins to scan the contents.

-O-

"What do you mean?"

"I mean…take a look in the mirror. Your eyes look funny."

As she rises to view herself in the small mirror on the wall, they hear muffled voices arguing outside. Forgetting about the curious eyes, they both make their way to the huts front door only to find Iruka being held back by an irate Itachi.

"I said I need to speak to Naruto. I need to apo-" his sentence breaks off the moment he sees Naruto from behind the girl now standing in the door watching him flailing around as he tries to enter.

He drops to his knees, head on the porch floor "Naruto please…forgive me. I was only trying to protect you. I should've bee-" he is again interrupted. This time by strong hands lifting him up by his shoulders.

"Iruka-sensei…please. Please don't! You've done nothing wrong." His voice clear and his plea reflected in his tone. Brilliant blue eyes look at the older man, urging him to see what he is failing to say.

Iruka finds it hard to look into his face and holds his head down "I didn't want to burden you with the knowledge. You were such a bright beautiful child, despite what you hold captive. People thought you will grow up and the power within will taint you, but you never once gave in."

"Because he is the perfect vessel Iruka. The perfect fit for what he carries within him." Nalina offers now standing beside the two men (Itachi moved back to his usual spot on the wall).

"Look at me Iruka-sensei" the blonde implores.

When eventually Iruka lifts his gaze, he sees the innocent cerulean eyes of the boy he's grown so fond of. Within the bright blue depths, he sees adoration, gratitude and love floating around and directed at him. His emotions win out and without thinking he hugs the lean young man who is almost as tall as him.

Breathing out Nalina looks over the bridge to see the onlookers watching them intently, her aura once again seeping the serenity and calm so significant of always surrounding her like a beautiful dream. Everybody present can feel it. "Naruto look…see all the people who care for you. These are only a few, you know there are more" she smiles brightly as she interrupts the moment between student and sensei.

The blonde turns around to face the bridge and his jaw slackens to see the group of people gathered. Tsunade's red rimmed eyes focussed only on him. "I…guess I owe everybody an apology ne" his usual sheepish look while rubbing the back of his neck and bright brilliant aura back in place. The happy and bright young man everybody loves is standing before them…again.

"What for? You've done nothing you brat, but…run out of the Hokage's office just one more time without being dismissed and I will make sure you get the appropriate punishment for insubordination. Do I make myself clear?" The honey eyed medic threatens from the back but the emotions playing through her eyes and features belies the words falling from her lips.

"Nah, I'll let you slide just this once because you gave me an excuse to play with the twins today – but next time you run a girl into the ground and don't pick her up -" Sakura quips from beside her teacher, pulling her glove tighter around her knuckles making the blonde sweat drop and simply nod.

"Just as long as you come finish your onigiri I made I'm happy" Mikoto interjects as surprised blue eyes fall on her next as she holds a toddler on each hip.

"Well, who am I to go against the Hokage's wishes" Fugaku's stern reply but nobody misses the worry falling away from his eyes.

Jiraiya just stands with a small knowing smile on his face and arms crossed over his broad chest.

Hinata is bright red when those beautiful cerulean eyes land on her next, her tongue glued to the roof of her mouth making an attempt to speak impossible.

The smile the blonde knucklehead ninja blesses them with then is blinding "Who's hungry 'coz I'm starving. And somebody asked me to help them judge some dango if I remember correctly" with a mischievous grin towards the girl next to him.

Nalina chuckles lightly as she glances up to the wall to catch a glimpse of Itachi but for the first time since she's arrived, he isn't there or anywhere in her vicinity. Her disappointment is seen and felt clearly and Naruto moves closer "You miss that scary guy that much huh?"

-O-

Itachi leaves his charge for the first time since he accepted this mission. He cannot handle the thought of her heart already set on another, so he leaves her secure in the knowledge that she is safe within his family home with everybody else there.

There is a foreign ache within his chest that he just can't name and despite wanting her for himself he does not wish for her to experience any irrelevant emotions. A part of him already knows he will endure any torture if it meant her happiness and safety is ensured. 'I need to prepare myself to not be the one' he thinks as he already begins to resign himself to loving Nalina from afar.

He enters the Uchiha library that is only accessible to the head family, he knows he's seen some scrolls with old powers that are no more than myths within the shinobi world. This new distraction will have to be enough till he can figure out what he will do in regards to his newly acknowledged feelings for the girl with blue-black hair and hazel eyes that stole his heart.

-O-

Tsunade sits at the table with everybody else as Mikoto serves them dinner. Her attentions have moved from Naruto to Nalina who currently seems to be lost in a world of her own.

"You guys should have seen how her eyes changed earlier. It was cool but so weird too. Hey, Nalina-chan…do you also have eyes like the Sharingan? Nalina-chan?" Naruto now completely back to his old self queries loudly.

Nalina isn't paying attention, her focus is currently on the other side of the compound, zoning in on a certain heartache that almost has her in tears. The sound of her name brings her back to the company at hand "Hmm? Sorry Naruto-chan, I wasn't paying attention." The tips of her ears tinge red and the entire room feels her slight embarrassment for being caught off guard.

"Nalina…it seems we may have an idea of the potential powers you possess. At the very least it should help you to better hone them, I hope" the blonde medic begins with her brow arched. She more than suspects it to be true, especially after what she witnessed between her and Naruto and even now as they all feel her discomfort and even heartache licking just around the edges of her aura.

She looks a bit confused at the statement but it piques her interest "My…my powers? I only channel my Mistress, any powers I possess or display are hers and hers alone."

Withdrawing the two ancient scrolls from her pouch the blonde medic elaborates "I sincerely doubt that Little Lotus. Being an Empath with manifested powers cannot be transferred, you are born with it. A legend exists of the Senju Clan Empath and their powers, the user could influence nature and any living thing in their vicinity with only their emotions. That is but one facet that is described within these scrolls, they mention more but nothing as in detail as that."

The room is shocked into silence but Fugaku is the one who speaks up first "I thought that was just a story. Was there really anybody who possessed such powers?"

"The Uchiha Clan Empath has an ocular prowess that links with their ability to influence the emotions of the people around them. The last known empath in our clan existed before Konoha was established" the deep velvet timbre interrupting them brings Nalina's head spinning around.

Itachi moves to the opposite side of the table, his actions not unnoticed by his parents or Tsunade as he places his own ancient looking scroll down. "I believe Naruto mentioned something about her eyes changing while they spoke" turning to face the blonde he speaks of.

"Uhmm…yeah. It sort of went all gold and bright. But…but I don't think Nalina-chan even knew about it or if she knew what she was supposed to do with it" Naruto ends off feeling the tension thicken in the room since Itachi stepped in.

Hinata's eye grow even bigger than their usual size as she absorbs the information of the powers being described around the now quiet table. The stories being relayed brings to mind a legend her mother talked about when she was still alive. Her stuttering and Naruto's proximity to her makes her responses nearly impossible to be uttered. Then she grabs Nalina's hand, her eyes pleading for assistance.

As Nalina begins to extract the insecurities her tongue loosens enough to bring her message across. "T-the Hyuga C-clan Empath has t-the ability to view a p-person as t-their chakra signature. A-allowing the wielder t-to see the n-nature of their h-heart or intentions."

"I-I don't think I qualify for any of those really. Empathy is a very common emotion in humans, it can't be all that special as you make it sound. Can it?" the disbelief evident in her aura as it begins to mull around her gently.

"A common emotion yes…but also very underutilised due to mankind and its selfish tendencies. Being able to harness it to invoke powers? That is extremely rare, love and anger are the strongest emotions and even they merely allow bloodline traits to be awakened in most cases. The emotions themselves don't play as big a part in utilising the awakened power" Iruka is the one to answer the still stunned young woman now.

"Wait! If what you guys are saying is true…then…Nalina-chan! You have three clans' mythical powers?!" Naruto ever loudly announces.

-O-

Making their way down a long corridor brightly lit with many lamps and lanterns two companions walk. Their search of the main temple having yielded them nothing except screams until they stumbled on some writing on a tapestry. This lead them on a search of the tunnels beneath the temple where they currently are.

"What did the tapestry say Zetsu? How far do we still need to go?" the snake Sannin impatiently asks as him arms dangle by his side, the pain already beginning to surface again.

"Patience Snake, the doorway should be up ahead."

They reach a doorway that holds no physical door, merely a carved etch within the hard stone, adorned with many symbols and inscriptions. The likes of which is completely foreign to Orochimaru, much like the writings on the tapestry currently within the plant-like man's grasp.

To Zetsu however the writings is more like reading his Mother tongue, long forgotten.

"Seems there is a complicated seal on this door. If the writings are to be believed, it only opens for a short period on a predetermined cycle. If my readings are correct this door is due to open in approximately 25 lunar cycles, damnit. Nothing can budge this seal."

"So what now? Have we come all this way for nothing?" Orochimaru asks in exasperation.

"No, what I seek lies beyond this door. We will just have to be patient."

The scowl on the snake sage's face cannot compare to the gleeful smirk that is on Zetsu's two-toned face. Making a few hand signs, a white clone of himself rises from the soft ground "Stay here and report back any changes. I want to be informed the moment this door shows any signs of opening immediately."

Zetsu proceeds to drip black goo from his hands around the door, it oozes up the frame of the carved doorway as if it is alive, smoothing into the deep etches made there. "This will ensure that nobody enters or leaves before we return" he answers his companions' unasked question.

They retreat the way they came knowing that there are no more living souls between them and the outside world, they made sure of it when they entered.

-O-

The moon hangs low and full in the sky, illuminating the path Nalina is on leading to the hidden orchard. Her shoes hang around her neck and dressed in her usual dancing attire she listens to the music playing through her buds. The presence that has been her constant companion sorely missed by her, apparent in her aura as it mulls around her searching for the comfort of the familiar missing chakra.

The knowledge of her powers is still a bit too far-fetched for her to believe and thus she focusses on the longing she feels growing stronger by the minute. "I wonder what I've done to offend him so. Why is he suddenly so distant?" she asks to the night sky hoping the stars will answer her questions.

From inside his room, he can feel her heading out to the orchard, knowing her nightly dance session will ensue and already missing the affects it has on his sleep. 'Is she thinking of him right now?' the thought enters his head and a small frown form between his brows. 'How did I miss her obvious affection for him.' His lack of perception taking a backseat to the growing ache he feels at the knowledge of his unrequited affections.

For the first time ever, her feet feel heavy and unwilling, the music playing inspires no movement to take over her being. The aura around her too dark and heavy for even her to break through. The longing clawing at her for the past few hours becomes too much and drives tears to flow down her cheeks "What's wrong with me? I miss him so much it hurts. It hurts so much." Her dismay is so great it completely shrouds her mind and soul as she runs back to her hut leaving her shoes behind in the orchard.

He feels her signature become turbulent and unsettled, it urges him to blink to the orchard immediately, in spite of everything she still is his charge after all. He catches a glimpse of her running off towards home as he spies her forgotten slippers lying abandoned next to the tree. Sighing he collects the forgotten shoes and blinks back to her porch.

Still crying she runs through the wooden door neglecting to close it behind her. While charging over the bridge, wiping away the tears from her eyes she doesn't see him appear right in front of her and runs straight into his hard, muscled chest.

He looks down into her watery hazel orbs and the tightness in his chest makes breathing very difficult "What happened Hime." His tone holds a hint of concern but otherwise it is monotone as he holds her steady with his hands around her shoulders.

"W-what do you mean?" a sob making her hiccup involuntarily.

"Why are you crying, why are you upset?" he asks straining to keep his voice even as he fights the urge to scoop her up and soothe her turbulent aura, it has never spoken this clearly to him before.

She just looks at him and her aura speaks for her in this moment, it shares her longing and loneliness. "I-I d-don't know w-why."

"Hn" his signature raised eyebrow in place.

He leads the way inside to her room as she follows "Itachi…what have I done to anger you so much? If it's because I told Naruto you're a good cook…I'm sorry. I didn't know it was a secret. I just needed something to get him here, you know food is always the best option with him. I me-"

He silences her rambling by suddenly lifting her into his arms and walking to her bathroom "You need a bath first; you had a long day." Depositing her firmly on the ground as he starts to run her bath, noting the vanilla and honey soap she prefers.

"I need to wash my hair so I always use the shower inside the house. And cutting a person off while they're talking is very rude you know." A slight tinge of agitation colours her sullen aura and it makes a small smile twitch at his lips as he closes the taps and lets the water run out.

"Fine, I'll prepare us some tea. We can speak when you're done" quickly snagging her soap he abruptly pulls her close to him, purposefully making her grab onto his tall frame to balance and blinks inside the house.

Washed, dried and with a cup of hot tea in her hands Nalina sits next to Itachi in the TV room. Memories of the last time they were here plays in her mind and a shiver runs down her spine. "You should dry your hair Hime" Itachi offers as he sees the droplets dripping from her mass of still very wet curls.

"My dryers' in my room" she clips shortly. She missed him so much but now it just seems like his presence is agitating her.

"Use your chakra, it's easier and quicker" watching her closely as her attempts to hide her flustering fails dismally.

"Instead of giving me advice on how to dry my hair, please tell me what I've done wrong Itachi? You've been distant ever since…" - her eyes widen – "ever since I asked to see your eyes! I-I was just trying to show you that I trust you Itachi. I trust you more than anybody, as much as I trust Mistress. If that is wh-"

"I'm not offended Hime, I'm flattered by it…extremely so" he cuts off her explanation. Inwardly astonished at how oblivious and truly innocent she actually is, even this revelation pains him more as it just makes her that much more alluring to him.

"Then why are you avoiding me?" unable to hide her own angst from colouring her tone as her eyes and aura betray more than her words and mind is willing to acknowledge.

"Hime…what do you feel? From me…what do you feel?" gazing deeply into her hazel stare with his crimson eyes, tomoe twirling lazily. Hoping he can get her to be honest not only with him but also herself.

"I-I don't know what you mean." Her chakra shades change to mirror her confusion and Itachi feels this, edging him on to be clear with her.

"Hime, why didn't you say you're in love with Naruto?" As the words pass his lips he steels his heart for the confirming answer, deciding in that moment that he owes it to her. He will make her accept love even if it is not from him.

The shock registering on her face in that moment freezes her momentarily until her aura (for the second time that day) lights up resulting in her once again laughing so loudly that Itachi is forced to cover her mouth with his hand, blinking them to his room.

They failed to notice Mikoto just outside listening to their conversation and also reading the auras wafting through the room. She finds it intriguing that Itachi's is so easily discernible, he is after all a master at concealing himself (another trait he owes to her, she was the best intel gathering konoichi Konoha had to offer in her time). She realises he blinked them to his room to afford the other occupants their peace with a growing smile on her face. 'I think it's time I speak to Fugaku and Kakashi. It seems my prodigy of a son does need some assistance in some areas after all.'

Her boisterous laughing does not cease but at least he has a silencing seal in place on his room and the rest of the house will not be disturbed. Her chakra is still pumping out her mirrored mirth from where he deposited her on his bed, resulting in once again the surrounding areas to spring into bloom, including the box of green plants that is just outside his window.

"What?! Where did you get that crazy idea from? Naruto? He's like my little brother, not to mention he is so much younger than I am. And besides he has Hinata…he just doesn't know it yet" She eventually manages to sputter out, her sullen mood a distant memory already.

"Hinata? I thought he is crushing on Sakura." His response does not match his current state of mind as the knot in his chest almost immediately dissolves when she classifies Naruto as a little brother, but he still needs even more clarity.

"Yeah yeah, she was his crush only because she…" she seals her lips with her hands before she says anything else.

Itachi catches her clamping her hand over her mouth as he fingers the blossoms now over flowing from his window box. "She's what Hime?" Inside he feels the hope spring into bloom again like the flowers he just admired. 'So this happens when she is happy…not in love' he thinks as he watches her hiding some information from him. He pays it no mind, as he currently has his own agenda to complete in regards to her powers. 'Perhaps I should just tell her' he thinks taking a seat next to her on his bed.

"Nothing…its nothing" her bottom lip stuck between her teeth as her cheeks flush red and her ears glow from the tinge they have. "Stop changing the subject Itachi…why…what did I do to offend you?" her small voice sounding uncertain as her eyes begs him for an answer.

"Hime" – sighing as he begins to use his hands and chakra to dry her still wet hair after he pulls her lip free from its punishment – "you have not offended me. On the contrary, you… fascinate me." Working his fingers into her scalp and skilfully kneading, making her sigh. The sounds falling from her lips awakens a stir in his abdomen followed by a heat that flows down. 'Slowly Itachi, you don't want to scare her off' he berates himself as he reigns in his emotions, he finds it harder than usual with her so close.

"Oooh this feels sooo good! Why do people always make me feel like a freak for doing this when it feels this good" she hums as she leans back, relaxing into Itachi's lap as he sits behind her on his bed. "I could fall asleep right here and now you know. Is it…will it be rude if I sleep here with you?"

He chuckles lightly, the sound rumbling through his chest "Rude? No, perhaps a bit inappropriate but Okaa-san won't mind." Her request taking him a little by surprise but it also excites him as he recalls having her asleep in his arms earlier that day.

"Inappropriate? We're just going to sleep. I've had Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura sleep with me and there was never any mention of it being inappropriate then" her aura has completely settled and mulls around her warmly.

"They are children Hime…we …we are grown-ups. Consenting adults at that Hime, with no blood relation between us." Finding himself (for the first time ever) stumbling over his words, he hopes she will understand what he is trying to convey but wishes she disregards the implications none the less. He has a feeling sleeping next to her will be even better than falling asleep with a surge of her chakra pulsing through his veins.

"Oh?" Her only answer but her tone still shows her ignorance at his words.

Her hair dry he lets his hands move down her neck to her shoulders, trailing feather light touches as his pads moves over cloth to meet the skin on her forearms "I don't mind. We can sleep here if you so wish." He decides to be selfish for once as having her next to him is what he wants no matter how innocent the act.

Feeling his aura with her own makes her comfortable, and his fingers trailing on her arms causes goosebumps to raise in their wake and she shivers slightly. Instinctively she turns to crawl completely in his lap and rest her head on his chest, "I would love to sleep in your arms again. I feel so safe here." Her aura forms a soft cocoon around them both, sharing the warmth and safety she feels within his embrace, weariness becoming her mantle as she snuggles closer to his form.

Without warning she looks up at him and the confusion in her eyes makes him start, something he said earlier just bothers her too much. "Why did you think I'm in love with Naruto-chan, Itachi? And why would it even bother you so much?"

"You said you needed him, and your powers escalated when you were with him" he offers quickly while avoiding her query as to why, while still adeptly hiding just how much he enjoys her current position cradled in his lap, completely overshadowing her small soft, plush frame.

"Hmm, my powers…I don't really believe I can do all you guys say I can. But my emotions this afternoon was…" - a long yawn escapes from her – "a …result…of …. feeling …" her voice trails off and when he looks down, he sees she already fell asleep and a smile graces his features then.

Shifting to lay them both down while still holding her curled up body very close to his, he murmurs "Soon Hime. You will be mine soon" as he gently brushes his lips over her temple, tempted as he is to brush them over her pouting rosy lips, he would rather claim their first kiss when she is awake. He is content for now to have her cuddled in his embrace, sleeping peacefully by his side "Because THIS is where you belong…who you belong next to" his last words and thoughts as he hugs her even closer before he drifts off to beautiful, blissful sleep with his dream already tucked in his arm and cushioned on his heart.

-O-

"Fugaku, I know what I said and I still stand by that but he needs our help to acquire the wife he wants…the partner he deserves. He loves her even if he has not acknowledged it in public yet. I know my son, and I know her…they belong together. We are just making it easier for them to accept each other."

"But how can you be so sure? He made it very clear he does not agree with an arranged marriage. I'm not against pairing them together, even if she cannot bear him an heir but if we have it wrong, we could lose both of them."

"Listen, you know your parents only paired us after you fell in love with me, right? They knew and wanted to see you happy, as did mine. I loved you from afar since I was a little girl, we owe our children the same honour. Will you speak with Kakashi please? I'm convinced Nalina will need a great deal more assistance in acknowledging her own feelings than even Itachi will."

"We can speak to him in regards to a courtship between the two, yes of course. Convincing him to agree to it…now that is going to be a trial on its own, you know how protective he is of her. Can't really blame him, she doesn't know how beautiful she actually is. I've seen the looks she gets from most men, shinobi and civilian alike, and it unsettles me too.

"They can only look but our son has already snagged her heart, of that I'm absolutely sure. He knows her true beauty lies within her heart. We just need to help them bridge their differences."

-O-

In her office trying to finish the work she blatantly ignored for the better part of this stormy day, Tsunade breathes easily again. "What a day this has been. I hope nothing else comes up for at least another week now" talking to her old team mate currently sitting quietly and admiring her as he watches her working diligently but grudgingly.

"It suits you, you know. You always were better at politics than any of us, it is after all in your blood. And this is Konoha, there will always be something else." he reminds her, gauging if she will again return so easily to her darker days. He wishes she would let him support and be there for her but she always overlooks him when it comes to her heart, it still stings though.

His teenage crush on her just blossomed over the years even after she fell in love with another, even more so after all her heartache. Even now, every time she passes his advances as trivial…she still holds his heart in her palm. He won't quit though, because he knows she is worth every moment of pain and rejection.

Just then an Anbu knocks, enters and kneels with a message. "Hokage-sama, an urgent message just arrived with a bird from Suna. It seems the village has been attacked and the Kazekage taken while he protected his people."

The look of shock on her face freezes at the news she receives but also the current mission scroll she holds in her hand. "Damnit! Can't there be just a little normalcy around here for once?" The scroll drops to her desk and she dismisses the Anbu thanking him for alerting her. "Good thing you brought Naruto back with you…he is our best liaison with the Sand. In spite of the threat to him as well I can't keep him from going…not after what happened today. Seems like Team 7 and a few more is heading out today" looking to her friend with a thankful gaze for his presence.

"And the scroll? Did it also have bad news?" noticing her firm grasp on the parchment now lying flat before her.

Looking down at it she shakes her head slowly, "Well it's nothing good I can tell you this much. He will not like taking on this type of mission, seeing as he hasn't been active since she arrived. And I have a feeling this particular type of mission will no longer be his forte given from what I've seen transpire between those two." A rueful look of doubt shadows her face as she thinks about the bond she witnessed first-hand, not just today – you could say she has watched the flower grow and is now just waiting for it to bloom.

"I see…he was your best and he is being requested right?" Jiraiya deducts taking a closer look at the seals on the scroll, specifying exactly the type of mission it is and whom she is referring to. He knows exactly how delicate these kinds of missions are, himself having been in requested on more than one occasion due to his 'specialised' knowledge.

"Hai…and turning it down will result in more trouble for Konoha as a whole. The Daimyo requested it personally, apparently he is cosying up to the nobles from Lighting Country and you know how things are between us and them." Tsunade explains with a worried frown etched in her brow. Kumo is Konoha's second long-standing rival, their greed to possess the Byakugan being a leading factor for the animosity.

She looks down at the scroll inked on red parchment and marked with the same colour seals around it, signifying it as a seduction mission of sorts. Not at all out of the usual as many of the nobility pays well for this, however they specifically request the very best they have to offer. He's made a name for himself not only through his skill on the battlefield but also with his dark, mysterious, dangerous and extremely elegant and sexy good looks…Uchiha Itachi. She groans as she thinks of the day that lies ahead.