Hello! I hope you'll like this chapter!

Disclaimer: I own the OCs in this fic, the rest is Masashi Kishomoto's. Sorry for any spelling mistakes or any OCCness.

Character age:

Akane, Itachi: 22

Naruto, Sasuke: 16/17

Shisui: 25

Kakashi: 30

The ice clone was ready, moving perfectly well without getting stuck or anything. I exchanged a look with Sasuke, who had his sharingan on. With a gulp, I activated the Claw, got Minato's soul and put it on the clone.

For some reason, maybe because my kekkai genkai and the Claw kept fighting each other, my Ice Clones kept melting the second the Shinigami energy touched them. It was very frustrating. So when the clone turned into oji-chan, I was holding up my breath for a few seconds in fear he might melt too.

In itself, Ice Clones were like a cheap replicas of Hashirama's Mukuton Clones. They were more resistant and could take a few hits but that was it. If there was a change in temperature, like a sudden use of fire jutsu, they'd melt and if the temperature allowed it, they would get stronger and more resistant.

Anyway, I grinned when he didn't melt, jumping up and down and making some moves to check the durability and flexibility.

"Finally?" Sasuke asked no one in particular.

I punched oji-chan. It was as hard as ice and he remained with us.

"Aouch?" Minato said, rubbing his cheek.

"Oh My God finally!" I yelled, raising my arms in the air in victory. "At least one out of four in an Ice Clone without it being exhausting!" I mean, I did send him in an Ice Clone against Dad but...I had been struggling to do it again ever since.

I spared a little with oji-chan, my pride being challenged by the small similarities in our fighting styles, before trying to summon Tobirama.

He melted almost right away.

"Huh, maybe it's like an allergy," I muttered quietly. Oji-chan sweat dropped.

"Fuck you."

"Oh, that's not nice."

"Someone's coming." I blinked at Minato and called him back in the seal just before Itachi appeared.

"I thought there were three of you."

"Up until a second ago. What is it?" We had trained with our swords shortly before with Sasuke, so we were both kind of tired.

"The Hokage wants to see you and me." I blinked at Itachi and pointed at myself. "For a mission."

"You've never been on a mission together, have you?" Sasuke asked us, his hands in his pockets. I tilted my head on my shoulder, squinting at Itachi.

"I don't think so. Unless you count me kicking his ass, then yes."

"I was just out of surgery," he replied with narrowed eyes. I shrugged. "I could have…" I stuck my tongue at him. "Real mature Akane."

"Don't care." He rolled his eyes.

"You're the worst." I snickered and Sasuke just sighed at our antics.

"It's pretty much the same as before huh…"

"Well...yeah?"

"Let's go," Itachi stated, turning around to leave already.

"You need to perfect some details but the gloves are ready after Sasuke!" I told him, catching up to Itachi. I looked up at him. "A mission with the both of us?"

"You're not happy about it?"

"You know it's not that, it's just…"

"Weird, I know."

It was reckon near Ame. Neji and Temari were sent as well. The thing was, Temari had a weird smirk on her face as we walked toward the gates.

"What?" She elbowed me in the ribs.

"You can tell me about it you know." I raised a brow. "Your secret boyfriend Akane, you totally have one right now."

"I'm engaged Temari."

"To someone you consider your brother. But the tension there must be in a forbidden relationship...it must be very steamy."

Add to that brother of the fiance...I still blushed.

"Temari!" I yelled at her. She raised her hands in the air.

"Now, I won't pry over who it is, even if I do have an idea." From the look in her eyes, she was spot on. "Just, you know...how is it in bed with so much tension?" I blushed a bright red at the question.

It was more, more than satisfying but…

I shot my friend a look and sighed when I realized she wouldn't drop it.

"I've only known him but he's more than satisfying to me," I mumbled under my breath, staring at my toes.

"You're going to make us late." Temari and I both jumped and widened our eyes, turning around to face Itachi's stern gaze.

He was the team leader.

"Where…" I started, looking around. "Where did you come from, I didn't feel you at all!"

"Keep your senses sharp and drop the useless topics." He walked past us swiftly and we just stared at him, before sharing a look.

"Do you think he heard us?"

"He mentioned useless to topics, so I guess so." I whined, covering my face with my hands. "It can't be helped."

"It doesn't make it better Temari…"

Itachi briefly explained the mission to us at the gate, reminding us that as we were all jonin it was an A-rank intel gathering mission. It was not that interesting, we split up in two groups, me remaining with Itachi, but there was nothing at the borders between Rain and Fire, so we went to the Land of Grass. We split once more and after a few hours, I frowned deeply and stopped on a branch.

"Did you feel something?" I looked around without a word, jumping down from the tree.

Itachi followed and before he could utter a word, I shoved a marked kunai in his hands without shooting him a glance. I cut open my thumb and summoned Seihitsu.

"Do you feel that?" I asked him. He growled.

"Like it's two and a half." I cursed under my breath and looked at Itachi.

"Sorry for not answering, I wanted to be sure." He nodded in understanding. "There are two chakra, but one is...weird, split or something." He frowned, knowing who it was.

"No."

"I didn't suggest anything yet!"

"You want to go your way, the answer is 'no'. You're not getting out of my sight." I blinked lazily and he gritted his teeth. "They want you."

"I know. But if it's who I think it is then…"

"No."

"He never actually tried to hurt me you know." Apart from testing my skills in Kiri...Obito never actually got into a fight with me and hurt me. During the mission to retrieve Haku...he was targeting Naru more than me.

"It doesn't matter, just listen to me Akane." I had a bad flashback of having the same kind of issue with Shisui.

"Can't you do the same?" I muttered to myself, frustrated. He glared coldly at me.

I walked to him and took his hand, drawing a chakra concealing seal on the palm. He stared at it and pinched the bridge of his nose, looking at me through his raven locks.

"You're the worst, you know that?" I nodded with a smile and took off.

He'd follow me from afar.

The two chakra split up as well. I was getting close to the Land of Earth when a swirl appeared in front of me. I adopted a defensive position when Obito fully appeared.

"You're alive."

"No kidding. You wanted to see it for yourself?" He shrugged. "I'm struggling to figure out what you want from me. You clearly don't want me dead, at least not yet." He scoffed.

"If I wanted you dead I would have killed you long ago instead of training you." He shook his head, moving his finger from left to right. "I have way better plans for you once you stop being an ungrateful child and follow me." I widened my eyes.

"You're still stuck on that!?" I shrieked. "What the hell!?"

"Seriously, I've been watching you for years and your potty mouth has just gotten worse and worse." I paled, shivers running down my spine.

"What do you mean you've been watching me for years?"

"I've never lost track of you Akane, obviously." I gulped. "If anything, I saw how those who were supposed to take care of you failed you again and again, when Fubuki died or in Konoha, in Kiri. I thought you'd realize they're not worth it as they currently are, but I guess you're as stubborn as your father." Cold dread appeared in my stomach. He stretched out his hand to me. "Now come with me."

"But what for?" I mumbled with wide eyes.

"You'll see." I shook my head.

"No thanks." He sighed.

"You're a real headache." I blinked and looked at the branches coming out of the ground to trap me.

I teleported to the marker I put a few meters back, but Obito was there and already dragging me into Kamui. However, it stopped as black flames went through him. I teleported to Itachi in the blink of an eye and he took a step in front of me.

"You're really an annoying one," Obito told him with his Madara voice.

"Why are you so interested in her?"

"She has something that just attracts our clan." Itachi didn't like that, the Eternal Mangekyou spinning in his eyes. Obito's eye darted to me, Itachi moving a little to hide me. "Uchihas are so protective."

"I have reasons to be."

"I'm sure." On this note, he disappeared before Seihitsu could bite into him.

There were only the three of us and the wind blowing in the trees. Itachi cursed under his breath and turned around to look at me.

"Fuck it's so confusing!" I yelled, crouching and ruffling my hair in frustration.

"Did he say something?" I nodded faintly.

"I need to talk to Kakashi and Mom." I stood back up. "Sorry, it…" He poked me.

"It's alright."

When we met up with Temari and Neji, they both had grave faces. Iwa and Ame had met with each other apparently. As we went back to Konoha, I looked at the sky.

I had a really bad feeling about this.

I was tensed all the way to Tsunade-san's office to give our report, then back home. I directly went to the bathroom. I didn't bother using the stool to shower as I wanted to get in the bath as quickly as possible to relax my muscles.

I widened my eyes when slender fingers crawled on my sides.

"Seriously, how come I don't hear you coming?" Itachi hummed behind me.

"I'm just that good I guess."

"And modest."

"Always." I knew he was smirking.

Actually, he was radiating smugness.

"Is it true?"

"What?"

"You've only known me." I groaned with a blush.

"I knew you heard." He nodded. "I was busy."

"Is it weird if I'm turned on by that?" I blinked and turned around to look at him.

"It turns you on?" He nodded with a faint blush.

"I'm the only one…"

"Tch, possessive jerk." He blinked happily.

"With you? Absolutely." I shook my head.

"I really need to relax."

"That's why I'm here," he whispered before kissing me hungrily.

Well, it's not as if his intentions weren't clear from the beginning.

"Obito-kun then…" I had totally forgotten to tell my mother.

From the shaking fists on her thighs, to think the cute Obito-kun with big dreams was behind Kushina and Minato's death, Yagura's manipulation and my abduction by Kiri...it was a tough pill to swallow. Kakashi put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I don't really remember being neglected, but he seems to think I was failed in my childhood."

"If he was there that day, he'd see Fubuki dying as sensei and I failing again and you being a collateral damage," Kakashi sighed, leaning on his knees. "That being said…"

"I left you in Konoha," Mom whispered faintly. Her gray eyes were filled with guilt. "After Fubuki's funerals I just dumped you with Kushina and Minato to leave with Tsunade."

"I never blamed you for that, and I enjoyed my time in Konoha Mom." She shook her head.

"No, our whole family had just been torn apart and I couldn't face it so I left you behind, I...it must be what he was talking about. Then I couldn't protect you and…" I stood up and crouched in front of her, my hands on her knees.

"Mom, you can't protect me from everything and I know that! I've known for decades, I don't blame you!"

"But I left you there for two years Akane!" I bit my bottom lip when I saw the tears in her eyes. "I…" I managed to squeeze myself next to her and hugged her. "I'm so sorry honey…"

"I know, I forgive you. It was hell but now, I just think of the positive I can get from those years." She hugged me as tightly as she could, almost as if I would disappear if she didn't.

I just hugged her back, Kakashi getting up to give us so privacy. We were at her place anyway. Itachi wanted to come, but Uchiha duty called and he went.

Ganbaru whined at her feet.

Ultimately, I decided to leave it there for today. I had accidentally brought up Mom's old guilt. I knew there was some, I just...didn't think it was that much.

I was gloomy when I got home. I barely was inside that someone was at the door. I opened it, blinking in confusion at Fugaku-san.

"I need to have a word with you." I moved aside to let him in. He quickly looked around.

I had never seen him here.

He sat at the dining table and I made tea. I didn't like that, at all. So when I brought the beverages at the table and I sat down in front of him, his stern expression and the folded arms made me clench my fists on my pants.

"It is...unusual…"

"I am going to be straight to the point. I am forever in your debt for what you have done for my clan and my sons in particular." It was not a good omen to start by this. "However, I vividly remember asking you to not get involved with my eldest, to which you agreed." I pursed my lips.

"I did."

"But you still did." I blinked. Was it the urgent matter Itachi needed to deal with? Did he tell him or something? I doubted it but…

"I…"

"I don't want to hear anything Akane." I gulped. "In a year you'll marry Sasuke, not Itachi, so whatever it is between the both of you is ending now." He pulled a key from his pocket. "I have arranged a function apartment for you, by the end of the day none of your belongings will remain here."

"...you're kicking me out?"

"I am. I can't allow this affair to spread, in the village or within the clan." Right. If it was known his youngest's fiancee had an affair with his eldest...his position would be even more rocky.

I...I guess it was the right thing to but...Itachi told me not to get involved in the Uchihas' issues and…

"I fought it, I really did…" I whispered to him. He just sighed.

"I'm sure you did. But then you told him the truth."

"He had a right to know too."

"He did. It doesn't mean he should have though."

"You have the nerve to come here." I turned around in the blink of an eye, my lips parting to say Itachi's name but I froze.

His fists were clenched by his sides, slightly shaking and his eyes were burning in a fury I had never seen in him.

He was...beyond angry. He was way more angry than when I woke up in Kiri.

"She's more reasonable than you Itachi, if anything I'm sure you're the one who made a move on her."

"This is none of your concern. I'm your son, I'm the one you're trying to convince so leave her out of it."

"She's concerned though, isn't she?" Fugaku-san stood up, his hands flat on the table. I looked between them both, unsure of what was happening.

"Do you really think Sasuke wouldn't go fooling around the moment he falls in love?"

"Love can grow when you really want it." Itachi narrowed his eyes. "You know how the clan is Itachi, you know it's the right thing to do to end this...hopeless relationship."

"Hopeless?" he repeated. I shivered.

It was deep and laced with...threat.

"What future do you think you'll have? Whatever you want, she already got it and you weren't there for it."

"Hey, that's…" I started to reply, offended as I jumped to my feet but Itachi sat me back down on my chair.

"You're saying that because you and the Elders want to secure an heir from me. I never said I wanted children." Fugaku-san widened his eyes in stupor.

"It's your duty!" he yelled in anger.

"It's good to know in spite of everything, you still have duty as a higher priority than any of your sons' happiness. You want to trap Sasuke in a loveless marriage with the woman I have been in love with since I was a teenager." I blushed a little. A teenager? That long?

This seemed to hit a nerve in Fugaku-san.

"You know that's not true!"

"Aren't you using Sasuke and Akane as pawns Father? For the good of the clan? It would be a big scandal if it was in the open, but you got Mother pregnant with me when you were engaged to someone else, didn't you?" Fugaku-san glared furiously at his son.

"Be very careful of your next words Itachi." Itachi just pointed at the key on the table.

"What is this?"

"That's…"

"Akane." I looked up at him. He returned my gaze and seemed to notice I was worried because the fury in his eyes calmed down a little. "What is the key for?"

"A...a function apartment I have to move in by the end of the day," I whispered quietly.

"You can't kick her out!" he shouted suddenly.

"This living arrangement has been creating rumors for a while now, it's…"

"It's my apartment, I didn't use any of your money to buy it so you don't get a say in who lives here or not!"

"I am you father and the head of the clan, what my heir does is my business and I…"

"It gives you no right!"

"You can't keep living with a whor…" I widened my eyes.

Everything happened really quickly. Itachi launched himself at his father, throwing him over the couch and tackled him to the floor. He raised his fist to punch him, the other clenched around Fugaku-san's collar and was about to punch him when I grabbed his wrist, placing my Pupil Seal on each of them when I noticed the red in both of their eyes.

"Itachi it's your father, don't hit him!"

"He doesn't get to walk into our home and call you that," he replied to me, his furious eyes never leaving his father's.

"I know but...please don't." I had a hand closed around his fist and put the other one on it, rubbing my thumbs on his fingers.

He remained like that for a few seconds, the tension so thick in the air you could have cut it with a knife. They just stared at each other, Itachi breathing loudly in anger until he let me pull him on his feet. Fugaku-san sat up.

"If this doesn't end, I will disown you," he threatened his son coldly. Itachi smirked.

"You won't."

"What?"

"There is such a fuss over Sasuke and Akane getting married, if he becomes the heir then the engagement would be broken. Your status as head of clan would be questioned. If you choose someone else, then the Elders have to agree and I've just secured a position with Nara Shikaku that the Hokage picked especially for me." Oh so that was... "You won't get another heir with a position like I have. You're stuck with me Father." If looks could kill…

Fugaku-san stood up and gauged his son for a few seconds.

"Don't show up at the Compound anymore unless it's an emergency." Itachi just folded his arms over his chest while his father looked at me. "The same goes to you, and you're fired." I grabbed Itachi's arm when I saw his muscles tensing.

When I heard the front door closing, I let out a breath I wasn't aware I was holding. I shot Itachi a quick look. He was glaring at the spot his father was a few seconds ago. I licked my lips and tightened my hold on his fist. He took a deep, shaky breath and looked down at me.

"Whatever part of you that may think he's right better stop right now," he warned me quietly and I gulped.

"I…" The cold glint in his gaze made me speechless so I nodded.

He sighed and slipped his arms around my waist, his forehead on the top of my head.

"I said I wouldn't give up on you, so don't…"

"I won't give up on you either Itachi," I refuted immediately. His body seemed to relax a little. "It's just...I don't want you to fight with your family like that…"

"The way the clan or even my father are has nothing to do with you Akane." I leaned my cheek against his shoulder.

"...I thought your father liked me at least a little."

"He does actually." I blinked. "But he knows going for you or Sasuke will get me riled up."

"It wasn't getting you riled up but raging mad…" I mumbled under my breath. "What was it about? How did he know?"

"My guess is Manami told him she found us suspicious so he decided to throw me in an arranged marriage as well, with Izumi." I tensed in his arms. "We both turned it down Akane, but from there he started to spout accusations after accusations and it just…"

"I see."

"...sorry if I scared you."

"Don't worry, I was...more concerned of seeing you like that." I moved back to look at him. "What now?"

"You're stuck with me." I stared sternly at him. "It's the only thing I can say for sure."

"At least that's one thing." He kissed me on the forehead.

"Could you find my brother in the village?" I nodded. "I should warn him Father might not be pleasant at home."

"Of course." I moved away and made the tiger sign with one hand, closing my eyes. "He's at Training Ground Three, I think with Kakashi and Sakura."

"Thanks."

He left without a sound. Once he was gone too, I fell on my couch with a big sigh. I'd stay with Itachi when it came to Uchiha matters but...Fugaku-san was in a rocky position and...I knew where he was coming from.

It was better to let Itachi focus on his clan for now, I'd deal with Obito on my side with Kakashi.

I was watching Mom and Fū sparing with each other, internally scared each time Mom would receive a hit. Although, I had never actually seen her train and she had pretty good Suiton and Doton skills.

I blinked when I heard the Hokage's bird above.

"It looks like duty is calling," I told them, staring at the bird.

"Of course, go honey." I did.

Tsunade-san looked grim, a scroll in her hand, when I entered her office. She threw the scroll at me once I had shut the door. She stood up and went to a window, her hands crossed in her back as my eyes went over sensei's handwriting. My hands creased the paper and I took a deep breath, blinking at the ceiling.

"The sea connection between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water has been established a year after the Battle of Kiri. As part of the Alliance, only those two countries and Suna are allowed to use it. Iwa shinobi trying to sabotage it only means the Tsuchikage is trying to weaken our relations. Neji and Temari said they had seen shinobi from Iwa and Ame meeting, but they left before they were spotted."

"Tsunade-san…" She sighed.

"It smells like war to me."

"We never had a great relation with Iwa since I was twelve or thirteen anyway." Since the Tragedy of Yosuga pass…

Suiren had been one of the rare souls in the Bloody Mist to treat me with kindness back then.

"I'm afraid this is going to happen very quickly. Akane, you…"

"I know Tsunade-san, in case of war I have to go back to Kiri and the transfer is suspended or ended before its planned end." I looked up at her. "It's just...what is the Tsuchikage thinking?"

"He's old and still stands on old positions from previous wars. Who knows what his end goal is regarding allying his village with Ame and the Akatsuki but…"

"Not good."

Iwa and the Third Tsuchikage had been important in the war before but...if there was one now with Iwa as the opponent…

Shit.

"Let's keep this between ourselves for now, but get ready in case." I nodded.

When I went home I went back to working on the Hiraishin and Kamui. I heard Itachi coming home in the evening, Sasuke behind him with a bag.

"Akane, do you mind if Sasuke stays with us for a few days?" I shook my head, my eyes not leaving my paper.

"She won't say a word as long as she's focused like that. Your room?"

"Yeah, go ahead." Sasuke did and Itachi walked up to me, leaning on my chair to look at my work. "How is it going?" I just folded a paper in a ball and threw it behind me. "I see." He was about to leave that I jumped on my feet, grabbed his shirt and pulled him down my level, kissing him deeply.

He was stunned at first but returned it anyway.

"That was unexpected," he whispered against my lips.

"I love you." He blinked, confused but he must have seen something because he pecked my lips.

"I love you too."

"I love you both but I'm so disgusted right now." We froze and turned our heads. Sasuke was at the entrance of the room, a shade lighter than usual. "Please, I don't want to hear noises at night when you…" He gestured at us and mimed puking.

"We'll do it during the day then," I replied with a grin. He just turned around and left. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun…"

Hey! Thanks for reading and leave a review to tell me what you thought of this chapter! Thanks to Masaya Daiji for the review! Ah, Izumi and Manami...their behaviors come from two very different reasons that will be explored in two arcs, but will be hinted at in the next one. Now I don't want to say too much, but I have an idea to redeem one of them. That being said, I really like putting subplots that don't seem important in one arc that will actually be more important in another.

Bye!