A love in time 20

"Let's go," Naruto woke Kakashi up in the middle of the night. Holding a finger to her lips, she signaled for him to be quiet.

Kakashi didn't question why they were ditching Jiraiya and Arashi. "Where are we going?" He handed her a cloak before placing his on.

"To meet an informant," Naruto glanced over her shoulder to see the older men sleeping peacefully. She had drugged them hours prior without them knowing. Naruto did consider going alone but changed her mind when she remembered Kakashi was with them. "I've already left a note. We're heading towards an old Uchiha hideout,"

Kakashi followed Naruto outside of their lodge and into the forest. "Naruto," He warned, already aware of the truth from the blonde. "Can you trust Itachi? He could only be translating the truth for your money,"

"He's a kinslayer. That doesn't change anything," Naruto knew not to be too delusional. However, she was inclined to believe that Itachi hadn't completely abandoned her. Part of her believe he was curious about her behaviour and what plans she held. The cool air cut her cheeks as her heart sank. Naruto would never admit it aloud for fear she would crumble. Kurama was aware of her fondness for Itachi and she headed his warnings. Kinslayers were the worst of the worst killers.

They traveled in silence toward their destination. Moving quickly under the covers of the night clouds, making their movements untraceable. Landed outside the abandoned hideout, they were greeted by Kisame. Itachi was nowhere in sight.

"He wants to see just you, blondie," Kisame grumbled, standing relaxed at the entrance but he was ready whenever to pull out samehada.

"Naruto," Kakashi warned.

Naruto weighed her options. She could subdue Kisame but since he experienced her sneak attack before he would be on guard today. "Stay here. If he tries anything then kill him and take his blade."

Kakashi sighed, "You give me too much credit."

"I have no doubt you can take down an S-rank shinobi." Naruto was confident. It was also another reason she was convinced not to leave Kakashi behind. He could adapt faster than Jiraiya and Arashi wasn't a combatant.

"Fine but if you're not out within the hour I'm coming in," Kakashi compromised, relaxing his shoulders as he kept his eye on the enemy.

"Thank you," Naruto nodded, taking a step forward and walked past Kisame without looking back. No doubt the two will keep each other in check.

Walking down the dimly lit corridors, the fire torches on the walls barely illuminating the place, Naruto found the damp air crude and wanted to sneeze. "I can't believe this house of dirt can be called a hideout," Naruto could imagine the building in its prime yet it didn't seem pretty. A structure meant for short-term use. Soon the corridor opened up into a large room with Itachi sitting leisurely on the room's sole throne. He looked awfully calm and confident that Naruto felt her lip twitch in irritation. Itachi was always too cool. "You have Orochimaru's location,"

Itachi's sharingan eyes glowed in the dimmed lighting. His fingers held up his head as he took in his blonde student. She was rather relaxed in his presence. "Are you aware of what you're asking for, Naruto? I don't believe I raised you to be a fool,"

Naruto hummed, trying to not let Itachi's cold demeanour affect her, "I'm not looking for revenge. If I was, I would've hunted Orochimaru down years ago without your help and without Jiraiya knowing. That man is still hopeful Orochimaru will change and return to the village." Naruto chuckled, "Funny, isn't it? Orochimaru experimented on orphans, the homeless and prisoners yet Jiraiya still wants him to return to the village."

"Why?" He asked simply. It could mean many things and Naruto could interpret it as she wished, however, Itachi knew the blonde would give him the correct answer to his unfinished question.

"No, that's not how this works,"

Itachi's eyes minutely widened. He wasn't prepared for her to not answer. "No?" He stood up smoothly and approached the blonde. "Perhaps you're unaware of your position,"

"I'm confident in my abilities," She would never show her nervousness to Itachi. Naruto was trained by the best and even sparred multiple times with Madara Uchiha. "You should focus on your position, Itachi-sensei," He was right in front of her yet when she blinked and released the genjutsu he put her in, he was sitting on his throne in the same arrogant position.

"Hmm you're genjutsu awareness is better than I expected," Itachi complimented yet his eyes were drawn to the floor. His eyes knew what he was looking at but he couldn't decipher what it was. "Fuinjutsu made out of chakra - you've been working hard," To the naked eye, they wouldn't be able to see the seal on the floor. However, his dojutsu could see it as if it were glowing. The seal took up the entire floor. Bringing his attention back to Naruto, she was calmly watching him. "Do you intend to blow us both up?"

Naruto swallowed thickly. Her seal had different components woven into it yet what she picked up left her anxious. "You're dying," She whispered, barely holding in her emotions as she was shown an image of her being skewered by Itachi from all angles. Naruto knew it was an illusion and dismissed it easily though she would be lying if she wasn't affected by dying by his hands. "That was rude," Naruto scoffed, "Should I also point out that you're going blind?"

Itachi's sharingan morphed into the mangekyo.

Naruto lifted her finger before Itachi could trap her within another genjutsu.

Itachi leaped out of his seat, dodging all the adamantine chains that were close to binding him. He stuck himself to the roof. Not trusting the seal on the floor. "A diagnostic seal isn't the only seal you've written on the floor. You're rather cunning, Naruto. I must say I didn't expect that from you,"

Naruto's chains gathered around her and Itachi activated susanoo. "I'll do whatever it takes to survive. Being cunning is only the surface, Itachi-sensei. I learned from the best after all,"

They stared at each other in silence before they both leaped toward each other. Naruto expected a fight with Itachi. There was no way this man would give her Orochimaru's location so easily after the stunt she pulled last time.

Flicking her wrist, Naruto sent her chains towards Itachi as he weaved between them as his susanoo covered Itachi and gripped onto her chains - yanking her forward.

Naruto grinned, allowed to be dragged forward as she gathered a rasengan in her palms and attached susanoo's skeletal figure. She could see Itachi weaving signs for a fire jutsu and used her free hand to weave one-handed hand signs.

"Katon: Great fire ball jutsu!"

"Fuuton: Great breakthrough!"

Itachi pulled back, his jutsu overpowered by wind, and dodge the hurricane that would've otherwise taken him. He decided against fighting Naruto with ninjutsu. Her chakra reserves easily overwhelmed his. Itachi's eyes widened when Naruto suddenly appeared before him and landed a bone-cracking punch to his susanoo, making its skeletal rib cage crack as he was sent flying to the ground.

Itachi twisted his body, using susanoo's arm to swing his body away from the floor and stick to the walls. Naruto landed on the wall a distance away from him. Her movements were odd. "You've fought another susanoo user,"

Naruto shrugged her shoulders. "You're more than welcome to use its true form but I don't think you have the chakra capacity or stamina for a drawn-out fight."

Itachi narrowed his eyes. His sources told him that Sasuke still hadn't awoken his mangekyo and he knew Kakashi was unable to summon a susanoo with only one eye. Itachi didn't believe that Naruto had met Tobi or was aware of his identity.

"Give me Orochimaru's location. I didn't come here to fight," Naruto demanded, "A genius like you should've already figured it out by now. If we fight each other seriously we're both going to die." Naruto growled when Itachi didn't back down and summoned amaterasu. Naruto counteracted by throwing her foxfire toward the black flames.

They two fought for dominance. White flames fighting against black flames.

"Why?!" Itachi yelled over the chaos. Asking his question once more.

Naruto conceded and dodged Itachi's flames. She still wasn't competent in fighting with ninshu. Landing back on the ground, Naruto's eyes never left Itachi's eyes. "I'm going to kill the New Gods. I figured a delusional man, obsessed with immortality like Orochimaru would know how. Give me his location,"

Killing a God was never one of Itachi's thoughts. "Does this have to do with your dreams?" He recalled the dreams she would describe to him in detail when she was younger. Sometimes she would wake up mad because of something the Nidaime Hokage said and would take her frustrations out during their training sessions. He had convinced her to write a dream journal after he taught her how to read and write but she never took it up.

Naruto stiffened. She had forgotten Itachi knew about this part of her. It had opened a flood of memories of her younger years when Itachi would be there to comfort her after a particularly scary time-walk where she would witness killings and unsavoury acts of war. "It's a curse," Naruto remained firm in her beliefs that time-walking was a curse. "I'm going to kill all the New Gods,"

Itachi noticed her eyes flash black momentarily.

Although Naruto said this it was difficult for her to track down the New Gods. Every information she gathered pointed to them mysteriously disappearing the day she first time-walked. It didn't make sense to her. "Give me his location so I can leave. I'm a busy person,"

Itachi sighed, pulling out a scroll and tossed it toward Naruto.

Just as Naruto reached out to the scroll, she frowned and immediately sent her chains toward a corner of the room. Her head whipped around, removing her chains from the spot, and frowned deeper when there was nothing. Naruto was sure she felt it. It was a sinister and cold emotion. It was so faint but for a second it slipped and revealed its ugly head. "Kurama, did you feel that?"

"I did. It was quick." Kurama was sitting tall. Confirming Naruto's sensory abilities. "Heh how annoying. It seems we were being watched,"

"Who else knows we're here?" Naruto demanded from Itachi.

Itachi frowned, "It should only be us,"

Picking the scroll from the ground, Naruto was firm, "You better not be lying. Should I find an Akatsuki member that is untraceable then I will destroy all of you before you can even think of reviving the Jubi,"

Itachi's eyes widened, "Wait, how do you know about the Jubi's revival?"

"We're done," Naruto replied, memorising the location before pocketing the scroll. Turning her back on Itachi, she headed towards the corridor she came out of yet susanoo's skeletal arm blocked her path. Sighing, she looked over her shoulder to the determined Uchiha. "I know a lot of things, Itachi-sensei, many things. I even know your secret,"

Itachi was in front of Naruto in a flash. Pinning her to susanoo by her neck and squeezed tightly. Yet she remained unphased and didn't attempt to shake him off or lessen the pressure. "What do you know?" His voice was low, thin, containing rage and thinly veiled desperation.

Naruto grinned, "I know a lot - ugh!" She coughed when Itachi slammed her against susanoo again. Warning her to not play games. "You left me," Naruto hissed, "Remember, you left me behind. My own sensei, the one I admired and looked to as a brother. I never forgave you for abandoning me,"

"I never abandoned you. You were never a choice,"

Naruto's laugh was bitter, "You seem to forget that I know you very well. Mask your chakra all you want but I'll always know what you're feeling. I did my time grieving for you. I did the work and let me tell you," She hissed, "You're selfish. Incredibly selfish. I know you and I know your plans. You want Sasuke to kill you and make him a hero,"

Itachi released Naruto. Glaring at her as she coughed and tried to get her bearings.

Naruto met Itachi's gaze head-on, "When you left I grew obsessed with your reasoning for slaughtering the Uchiha clan. If I was an idiot I would've believed you when you said you did it to test your power but you made a mistake," Getting to her feet, she approached the stonewalled Uchiha. "I know you. I understand you better than Sasuke. You're a pacifist," Naruto would feel his emotions wavering, "You've always been kind. Despite being an ANBU Captain you always had a soft heart. I'm sure if there was another option to prevent the Uchiha from rebelling and causing a war you would've chosen that path in a heartbeat."

Itachi felt his heart shudder. He never expected this. He never planned for Naruto to find out. His eyes went to her hand that reached for her zipper and revealed her shirt. He couldn't tear his eyes away as she lifted her shirt to reveal the thick scar that covered her heart. He felt the air leave him as his fingers trembled. "Why?" It was hard for him to speak. His throat felt swollen.

"No matter what everyone told me I couldn't bring myself to turn my back on my sensei." Naruto knew she affected Itachi as his susanoo dissipated. "I couldn't understand why you killed your own family. It didn't make sense. So, I went looking for the answers myself." Naruto lowered her shirt, "I won't ask you to come home or to explain yourself to Sasuke. I'll deal with Danzo myself,"

"What do you want?"

Naruto wouldn't pass up this opportunity, "The Naka Shrine, under the 7th tatami from the far right is a secret room. There's a stone tablet," She would never tell Madara that she followed his brother one night when she couldn't find Madara within the compound. The fact the writing was similar to the stone tablets in the temples and Madara never told her about it let her know he still didn't trust her. "What does it say?"

Itachi sighed, rubbing his face as he deactivated his sharingan. "Naruto, why are you doing this?" He could feel his resolve waiver. "Why are you doing all this? Wanting to know about the New Gods' origins. The Uchiha tablet. Orochimaru's location. What does this all have to do with your dreams?" He walked towards her slowly, his fingers reaching towards where her scar lay. "Why can't you be a normal shinobi?"

"It will end with me," Naruto's heart pounded furiously as she could feel the pressure from Itachi's fingers run along her scar. "I won't pass this on to my descendants. Should I fail, it will still end with me,"

Itachi's fingers curled into her shirt. He understood her intentions. "When will it end?"

"Unfortunately, not anytime soon. What's on the stone tablet, Itachi-sensei?"

Itachi's mind finally registered the scar. It was thin with thickened scar tissue. It was a deadly blow. This time, his charcoal eyes trembled looking into the firm gaze of the blonde. She almost died. "No, you were meant to die." A withering sigh left his lips as he felt his walls shatter and yanked Naruto towards him. He wrapped his arms tightly around her shoulders, feeling how small she was compared to him, and felt her stiffen before shyly returning to hug. "You almost died,"

The scent of smoke and wood entered her nose, making her shoulders relax as she recognised the comforting scent. She whispered a vulnerable secret to her favourite Uchiha, "I did die. For 13 minutes my heart didn't beat," Naruto felt Itachi hold her tighter that she felt suffocated but she didn't move. She could sense his distress. "Jiraiya only knows that I almost died. Please, Itachi-sensei, I need to know what's written on that tablet,"

Itachi rested his head on her shoulder. "It shows how to unlock the mangekyo sharingan and the ability to control the Biju. It also has the story of Ridoku Sennin, Kaguya, and the God Tree." Itachi spoke in detail about the stone as he felt comforted by Naruto's chakra.

Naruto felt rage bubbling within her. Madara knew all of this yet never told her anything. He knew who Kaguya was and what she became. He withheld so much information from her that it left her hurting.

"The stone also suggests that the Infinite Tsukuyomi will be the salvation for the Uchiha," Itachi finished up, feeling at ease to release Naruto. Once he did, he noticed the dark expression on her face and began to worry. "Naruto, look at me," He held her face and forced her to look at him. Her eyes were no longer blue. They were darker than his own. "Naruto?"

"I'm sorry, I never imagined our reunion like this." Naruto could feel her blood boiling as foxfire unconsciously started to spark around her body. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and tried to focus on calming down, "I should've done this alone. No, I'm doing the right thing," She mumbled to herself, stopping herself from resorting to her old methods of being alone. Naruto swore never to return to working on her own and burdening all the hardships on her own. Opening her eyes, Naruto could see her eyes reflected in Itachi's eyes as they returned to blue. "I have to go before Kakashi starts a fight,"

"You can spare me a few minutes," Itachi was sure the two outside could wait a while longer. "I have so many questions."

"I have time for 3," Naruto shrugged her shoulders.

There was still an awkward air between them but they both wordlessly knew they were on the same page.

"Why didn't you tell the truth of that night? Of what I've done,"

"I figured you had your reasons for keeping quiet. Your actions showed me you want Sasuke to kill you so he could be the hero that avenged his clan and you would die with the Uchiha shame. I don't agree with how you've chosen to do this but I won't question it." She looked at Itachi curiously, "Who helped you?"

"I did it alone,"

"You're lying," Naruto revealed, "You're a genius. I bet you could take down Jiraiya and Kakashi easily, but you want me to believe you killed the entire Uchiha clan by yourself? That's a tough bet."

Itachi frowned, "I can't tell you," He opted to change his answer. "Yet,"

Naruto shrugged. She wouldn't push him to answer as it seemed he would answer her eventually.

"What do the New Gods, the Uchiha tablet and Orochimaru have to do with your dreams?"

Naruto groaned, "That's going to take a long time to explain. Like an hour at least."

"Shorten it,"

"Haa~" She sighed, "You're still a hardass," Naruto shortened her story as best as she could. Leaving out a lot of information and if he was smart, Itachi would use his last question for an in-depth answer to her dreams or he would ask something else. Once she was done, Itachi nodded as he absorbed her rapid-fire tale, "How long has your disease been terminal?"

"Since I was 16. Unclear causes and there's no cure," Itachi replied, "How's Sasuke?"

Naruto wasn't happy with his answer or question. Rummaging through her pouches, she pulled out a scroll and tossed it toward Itachi. "I've had my people on Sasuke ever since I left the village. His training has progressed well for his…. capabilities but we've been unable to determine who has been influencing Sasuke to restore his clan. There have been no movements from Danzo and the usual suspects. They're somebody that not even I can locate-" Naruto recalled the shift she sensed early and asked once more, "Is there somebody on Akatsuki that can remain undetected?"

"Zetsu," Itachi read through the report quickly. He clicked his tongue in annoyance, "He's gotten two women pregnant,"

"They're civilians from deep pockets. The families have promised to restore the Uchiha District."

"You're on the list,"

"It'll never happen. We never got along," Naruto bit her thumb and while Itachi was distracted slammed her hand on his chest and sent him flying.

Itachi groaned, looking at the ceiling, and didn't bother getting up. He was still processing his baby brother's actions. "What did you do to me?"

"I'm actually a competent medic-nin. Tsunade-baa-chan even compliments me," Naruto quickly placed her seal around Itachi's heart before he could dismiss it. "If you still want to die by Sasuke's hands then so be it. It's only fair you two fight at full strength. Give me a couple of months and I'll have a cure,"

Itachi sat up. Pulling his cloak back to reveal the seal settling into his skin before disappearing. "You don't need to do this,"

"It's for my own satisfaction considering all you put me through." Naruto summoned a toad before her finger stopped bleeding and addressed the blue creature, "I need you to find out about an Akatsuki member called Zetsu. They're able to bypass my sensory abilities."

The toad croaked before disappearing into a cloud of smoke.

"I have to go. I'll keep in contact with my messenger scroll."

"Naruto," Itachi got up, "I can help you,"

"No," Naruto shook her head, "Not now. I don't need your help right now. I'll see you around, Itachi-sensei," Naruto took off before Itachi could stop her again. She wished she had 24 hours to spend with him and just speak with him but both of their positions didn't allow for such luxuries. "Ready?" Naruto looked at Kakashi, who seemed like his usual aloof self as Kisame looked tense. She chuckled and smacked Kisame's shoulder playfully with him never noticing she placed a tracking seal on him. "Lighten up, Kisame. I came out with 10 seconds to spare,"

Kisame growled, baring his fangs, "Get lost, punk. The next time we see each other I'll be the one facing you,"

"I look forward to it, Kisame Hoshigaki," Naruto walked towards Kakashi with a light smile. She held up the scroll for Orochimaru's location and saw him nod.

They walked a distance away before Kakashi asked, "What's the plan?"

Naruto tossed him the scroll. She appreciated that Kakashi was allowing her to take the lead but she wanted a break. "I'll follow you, Kakashi-taicho,"

"Don't call me that," Kakashi sighed, "We find a place to break today and replenish our supplies. Tomorrow we scout the area with my ninken and then we attack,"

Madara Uchiha

Madara woke up in a panic as he quickly covered his face from an onslaught of punches. "Urgh! Naruto! What are you doing?" He could see blonde hair flying wildly above him yet he couldn't find the timing to dodge her quick and powerful blows.

"You." punch. "Lying" punch. "Bastard!" Slap! Punch! Punch! "You lied to me! You withheld vital information!" Punch! Slap! Slap! "You said we were a team! I believed in you! You fucking snake!" Slap! Punch! Slap! "After everything I shared with you!"

Naruto beat Madara mercilessly. She didn't worry about his yelling, having already placed a barrier up before she hounded into his face.

"Wait wait wait!" Madara found an opening to hold both of her wrists. Preventing her from hitting him again. However, he wasn't prepared to see her crying above him. "Naruto," he whispered.

"You lied to me!" Naruto was hurt. So incredibly hurt that her chest felt heavy. She placed so much trust in Madara because he was just like her. "You knew all this time and never told me. How could you?!" Her tears spilled onto his face. Some fell into his stunned eyes. "I trusted you,"

"Wait, you can still trust me, Naruto," Madara's gut churned terribly. Whatever was going on screamed at him to fix it. Sitting up slowly, still firmly holding her wrists, Madara insisted, "I swear you can trust me,"

"Fuck your oath," Naruto hissed, "I know all about the stone tablet hidden in your temple," She caught him paling, "You knew all about Kaguya and the Jubi. You sat there," She sneered, "and let me speak like a fool when you KNEW!" she exploded, unable to overpower Madara to beat him again. Instead, she reared her head back and slammed it into his nose.

"Argh!" Madara felt his nose break and felt blood trickle down his nose. "Naruto, I didn't mean to-"

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" She yelled, "Stop using my name like that! No matter how many times you use it before you speak won't soften my heart or change the fact that you LIED TO ME!" She felt madness creep into her heart. "I told you everything there was to know! You used me! I was the fool to believe that you were on my side! You probably only wanted to spar with me so when you fought an Uzumaki you'd have the upper hand! You shameless bastard!"

"Please," Madara pleaded, "Let me explain myself. This situation is still unbelievable,"

"Well believe it!" Naruto didn't want to hear his excuses. "Believe your broken nose!" She felt the strength in her body weaken as fresh tears fell, "You used me. I feel so pathetic," Her voice cracked as her head unwillingly fell onto his chest. "After years, I finally believed I wasn't alone,"

"You're not alone," Madara didn't know how to comfort her. He couldn't bring his hands up to soothe and instead reset his nose. "I'm with you now,"

"No," Naruto sobbed, finding the strength to pull back, "You're not and you never will be. What you've done, what you have caused me, I can't go through that again. From now on, I will do this alone." As she tried to get up, Madara pulled her back down. His eyes pleaded with her but she refused to look at him.

"Please look at me, Naruto. I was wrong for hiding things from you. If it's any help there were time-walkers in the Uchiha clan. They were all incarcerated or killed once they were discovered-"

"I don't care," Naruto interrupted him. Pulling her hand out of his and wiped her tear-stained cheeks. "I don't care. I found out everything my way and I will finish this my way. I don't need you anymore,"

"Naruto please," He stressed, getting up to follow her as she moved away. "Naruto!" Madara found himself trapped within her barrier as she walked out of his room. "Naruto! Come back! I can explain! I swear it will never happen again! I'm sorry for everything, Naruto!" When she didn't reply or come back, Madara yelled louder, "Naruto!"

Soon the barrier gave way and Madara rushed out of the room. Running down the corridors and checking the perimeter of his house for any traces of the blonde. "Shit," He punched a nearby surface before sitting down on the dirty floor. Closing his eyes, he took deep breaths and tried to find his connection with Naruto. He could feel sweat gather on his forehead as he searched within him desperately. Madara wasn't sure how long he was sitting outside but he could feel the warmth of the sun touch his face.

"Brother,"

Madara's eyes flew open. The sun was rising with Izuna standing before him. He never would've believed he grew fond of Naruto until now. He couldn't feel their connection. The blonde had somehow cut him off. Quickly, dread set in.

Itachi Uchiha

Itachi found himself inside Konoha. Specifically, the Hokage's private library. He had left Kisame as their Inn and traveled alone and he left his Akatsuki cloak with Kisame. Despite being in his home village, Itachi didn't feel the need to check on Sasuke. Instead, his eyes traveled along the bookcases until he found the Nidaime's diaries.

Hesitantly, he reached out towards the first diary. The cover was well worn and he had a feeling that the only people that have read the diaries were the Nidaime and Sandime Hokages. "And now myself," He muttered to himself and opened to the first page.

Itachi always wanted to read the Nidaime's diaries ever since he was aware of Naruto's special case. However, he respected the Hokages enough to never dwell on his curiosity. That was until he met Naruto recently. The curiosity reignited and soon he found himself breaking into Konoha once again.

Itachi took his time reading the Nidaime's diary. His heart pounded with nervousness as he reach each page yet all he found were cute writings of a young boy with a serious heart meeting his dear friend. Itachi couldn't withhold a chuckle when the Nidaime believed he was possessed and went to seek help. Itachi could finally witness another point of view of Naruto's meetings.

Of course, when Naruto was younger she embellished her stories whereas the young Nidaime was to the point with few concerns woven in. The worries mostly concerned the blonde Uzumaki.

Once he finished the first diary, Itachi could spy the rising sun and placed the diary back. There were 4 more volumes and although he was tempted to steal them he refrained. He would come back tomorrow and read the next volume.

Itachi hoped that somewhere in the Nidaime's diaries he would find a hint that the Sandaime overlooked to help Naruto. Itachi believed a fresh set of eyes scanning the texts would benefit Naruto in the long run.

However, what Itachi failed to realise is the Nidaime, for fear of others reading his words, never wrote anything of significance between himself and Naruto. He always kept it brief and reminisced on the memories by himself. Tobirama Senju wasn't the Nidaime Hokage, founder of the ANBU corps, for nothing.