**Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the quote below. I just own Sintary ^^ Also I do not own the other OC Kokuro. He's my friend's.

First, I must address the last post. I wasn't rushing to get it posted before I left for work (literally changed while this was loading), so I wasn't able to thank you guys properly. As of right now, I have 1264 total hits for this story. 966 from this month alone. You have no idea how happy that makes me. Thank you guys so much!

Secondly, I really hope you guys enjoyed that last chapter. It was really hard to write - which is why it took a good five days to post it. I had the beginning and the end laid out in my head, it was just muddling through the middle that got me. I didn't want to be a sex chapter, but a chapter that really showed how much Itachi cared for Sintary without saying it. One of my lovely followers, HonestxxEyes, said she was in tears by the end of the chapter which is what I was trying to accomplish. I wanted you all to feel the emotions these two were feelings. To me that's incredibly important in a story is that the readers connect with the characters. I was surprised I didn't cry when I wrote it, but it's probably because this was the second time going through this. As I've said before, this was created from an RP. I've changed the small details, but the story is exactly how we played it out in the rp - so lucky to have an RP partner who plays a wonderful Itachi when I need her too. So when I wrote the last chapter in the RP, trust me, I was bawling.

I'd really appreciate hearing more feedback on these chapters just because it means a lot to me to hear from you guys. I always light up when I see the emails from Fanfiction. I love the healthy reviews HonestxxEyes leaves, and of course the little ones from Rose2357 and ILurveManyAnimeBoys. I also like receiving questions, even if they aren't phrased like questions, from people like bunnyguest. I meant to reply in the last chapter, but as I said before, I was trying to get it published before work.

So to finally shed some light on that: Being a ninja is Sintary's connection to Itachi. He's the one that made her go through with the training and graduating from the Academy and being the team with Kokuro and him. In the anime, you - or at least I got - get a feeling that Itachi hadn't wanted to be a shinobi either because of all the bloodshed he saw. He didn't want to be the cause or get caught in the middle of war/bloodshed/death/etc., but he felt like if he got to the point where he had influence, he could change the ninja world. So that's why he pushed forward with it all, and in my story, he passes this thinking on to Sintary when they were very young, and she adopted the thinking. In my mind, and maybe I've hinted to this in the last chapter, Sintary and Itachi had a plan for their future. Sintary was only going to be a shinobi for a couple more years because the clan would want Itachi to be married and having kids sooner than later. They've always had this plan and that could be a little of what driving Sintary. You know, the whole, "a few more years and I'm done," mentality. But that's my take on it all!

Anyway, there's not much that happens in this chapter. It's just there to move the story along. I mean, it's 6 pages of... sadness... being numb. The drama will continue next chapter! Enjoy!

"I thought that I've been hurt before

But no one's ever left me quite this sore

Your words cut deeper than a knife

Now I need someone to breathe me back to life

Got a feeling that I'm going under

But I know that I'll make it out alive

If I quit calling you my lover

Move on

You watch me bleed until I can't breathe

I'm shaking falling onto my knees

And now that I'm without your kisses

I'll be needing stitches

I'm tripping over myself

I'm aching begging you to come help

And now that I'm without your kisses

I'll be needing stitches"

-Shawn Mendes, Stiches

"Itachi!?" She called out insisting this wasn't funny. "Where are you?!"

She looked around her whole apartment, feeling horrible all the while. It wasn't until she made it back to the bedroom that she saw the white card.

Her hand shook as she picked it up and looked at it.

'I'm Sorry.'

The card was flung to the ground as Sintary quickly threw on her clothes and rushed out her window. She hopped over to the next window and banged on it so hard she was afraid it would break.

"Kokuro!" She whispered at first, her voice catching with tears. "God dammit, KOKURO!" She yelled and looked inside the window.

It was still dark inside. She tried feeling for his chakra, and she felt nothing. He wasn't back yet.

Tears brimmed her eyes as she panicked. She was on her own for this. She didn't know what to do.

"Dammit, get it together," She said allowed and blinked back her tears.

The kunoichi flung off the building and raced towards the Uchiha Compound, unaware of the horrors she would see.

"Kokuro!" Danzo exclaimed seeing the shinobi come in.

"Yes, Danzo-sama," the young boy knelt before the elder man.

"A shinobi just massacred a ton of our villagers. I've already sent a team out to defeat him, but I'm afraid they won't be strong enough. I need you to go after them and bring this village the justice it deserves. Go now!" He said compelling.

Kokuro nodded, none the wiser, following his duty to the village. He vanished and immediately sought out the team awaiting him.

He felt Itachi's chakra almost instantly, but why was he so much farther ahead from the rest of the team? Kokuro wondered as he caught up other men.

"Is Itachi gaining on the enemy?" Kokuro asked rushing with the others.

One masked ANBU looked at him. "We wish." He said forebodingly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kokuro asked looking at the other ANBU.

That one shook his head. "Of course he didn't tell you." He sighed as they ran. "Itachi Uchiha is enemy number one against Konoha." He said.

Kokuro immediately slid to a stop and so did the other two. He couldn't believe it. Itachi? No, he couldn't be the enemy. He was as dedicated – if not more – than anyone else in this village. He wouldn't – he couldn't!

"What the hell! He's getting away!" They yelled looking back at Kokuro.

"Leave him. It was Danzo's mistake to send him." One said as they turned.

Itachi had stopped when they had. He knew it was their job to come after him; that they didn't really want to attack their captain. The two said so before asking him to go easy on them. It was easy, of course. A little Genjutsu trick, and they had their blades in each other instead of him.

That left Kokuro.

"I do not wish to fight you, Kokuro." Itachi started sounding cold. "It would be a blood battle. Let me go."

Kokuro was taken aback. He couldn't speak. What had happened in the week he had been gone? "I—I don't understand! What happened?!" He tried asking.

Itachi started turning away. "You will find out, Kokuro." He said.

A kunai whizzed past him, just above his shoulder. It had been meant to catch his attention.

"There's no fucking way you're leaving without answers!" The other shinobi yelled at him. "What about Sintary? Are you just going to leave her here!?"

Itachi's eyes turned sad as he stared at the ground. "I have made my choices and said my goodbyes. I can no longer stay here if I value my life. Please accept this, Kokuro." He said quietly.

Kokuro stepped back, so confused. One minute he was cold, now he seemed… upset? What was he missing?!

Itachi activated his Mangekyo Sharingan which instinctively activated Kokuro's as well.

"Take care of Sintary and Sasuke."

The words resonated deep inside Kokuro. He blinked and his best friend was gone; chakra and all. With his breath already heavy, he turned and raced back to Konoha.

Sintary's stomach was twisted so tightly she thought she would puke when she reached the Uchiha Compound. It was so dark; not a single light lit. She bit her lip hard and the pain drew her focus back. She pushed open the grand doors and really did puke.

Bodies just discarded across the streets. Blood splattered everywhere. Nothing new to a ninja who grew up during the war. What made Sintary sick was that she knew majority of the faces that laid pale on the ground.

When she caught her breath, Sintary pulled herself up and pushed forward. She tried not to look as she continued further into the facility. She hurried over fallen comrades, sending her silent prayers for peace.

As she turned the corner, she saw one body all the way down. It was close the main household. She knew that set of hair and she flew.

"Oh god no…." Sintary whispered as she dove near the small body. She gently turned the boy onto his back and checked his pulse. "Oh thank god…." She whispered and picked him up. "I've got you Sasuke."

Looking around, she glanced inward at the Uchiha household and quickly turned away. She hadn't found Itachi, but she… she just knew he was alive somewhere. Maybe he was avenging his clan for whoever did this. She didn't know. She did know that Sasuke needed medical attention.

At the hospital, Sasuke got immediate attention. The head nurse demanding answers to which Sintary wouldn't speak to in public. Once in the room, she told the nurses attending to Sasuke what happened to her best abilities. Some of them ended up crying from pure shock and horror. They were excused while the others looked over Sasuke.

"He's going to be fine – physically," the head nurse said. "He had just a cut on shoulder, but nothing detrimental. He just needs some rest."

Sintary nodded and sighed taking a seat.

"He'll need a review by Ibiki though; you know that." She continued.

Sintary nodded. "I'll make sure to set it up – after this settles down."

The nurse took her leave and left them alone. They weren't alone for long though. Kokuro burst through the door panting. "Oh, thank kami you're okay." He said.

Sintary got up and walked over to him. "What happened? Why are you so out of breath?"

"You're asking me what happened?" Kokuro asked looking at her. "I was going to ask you what happened."

Sintary looked at him confused. "I don't know what happened fully. I woke up, and Itachi was missing. I tried finding you, but you weren't home yet. So –for whatever reason – I headed to the Uchiha Compound…" she trailed off remembering all of that death.

"What happened?" Kokuro asked and glanced at the sleeping boy. "Why is Sasuke here?"

Sintary took a deep breath. "He's… he's all that's left…" Sintary whispered shaking her head.

Kokuro's eyes got wide. "No way. That… It's the Uchiha clan… they're too powerful for an ambush."

"Someone did it. I can't find Itachi though. I'm assuming he went after whoever." Sintary said clearly worried.

"No…" came a small voice behind them.

Kokuro and Sintary immediately turned to the young Sasuke sitting up.

Sintary headed over to his side and sat by the bedside. "What do you mean Sasuke?" She asked softly.

"He… he did it." Sasuke whispered.

The two were taken aback by what Sasuke said. Kokuro pieced together rather quickly, but Sintary was having a hard time believing it.

"Who… who did it?" Sintary asked quietly.

Sasuke's hands shook with grief as he gripped the sheet covering him. "Itachi… he did it."

Sintary felt her heart stop. "No… that's not possible…" She whispered with wide eyes.

"It is entirely possible." Another, older voice claimed coming in. It was the Third Hokage with Danzo in tow. "Itachi Uchiha has murdered the entire Uchiha clan aside from himself and Sasuke."

Sintary backed up feeling cornered from the bed and hit the wall. "That's impossible." She said shaking her head not believing them. "I was with him this entire week! I would have noticed something!" She exclaimed.

"He's an excellent Genjutsu specialists, Sintary. It was all just a lie." The Hokage said remembering the words Itachi told him to tell her. "While some events may be true, his composer as well as other factors, were fake. He blind sighted you and sent Kokuro away so neither of you could stop him in time."

"It was all there." Danzo took up. "The Uchiha clan suspected he was plotting something. They noticed a grave difference in his temperament, and came to me for assistance. Sadly, I could not aid them in time." He said all nobly.

Sintary felt her heart pounding her ears. Something wasn't right. Something was very, very wrong. She knew Itachi wouldn't just… just kill his family in cold blood. He couldn't kill anyone in cold blood – that was the type of killing he was against entirely. He never did anything without a purpose – a purpose that served the village.

"There's something wrong. Itachi wouldn't do this without a reason." Sintary said trying to keep herself calm, but was having a hard time.

"He gave a reason," Sasuke suddenly said. They all but forgot about him. "He said he was testing his strength… he wanted to see how strong he was."

Kokuro blinked. "Itachi… no. He never wanted to test his strength. Hell, he was completely aloof to it."

"Well, clearly Itachi lied to you too." Sasuke said bitterly.

The two teammates looked at each other. They had known Itachi. They had grown up with him. They surely would have noticed the change; they always could tell if there was something off about their team captain – always.

"As it stands now, Sasuke is sole heir to the Uchiha clan. He'll be given an apartment and continue with schooling when he is ready."

The mention of Sasuke living alone didn't settle with Sintary, and a quick glance at the young nin told her he didn't care for it either.

"Excuse me, my Lord," Sintary said finally gathering her wits together. "I'd like to offer Sasuke to live with me." She moved closer to the boy.

"What has brought this about? You do not know how to raise a child." Danzo said firmly.

"You two were going to put him out there all by himself so don't talk about raising children. Listen, Sasuke knows me. I've spent a lot of time around him, and I am offering him," Sintary emphasized, "another option." She turned to Sasuke. "If you would like to live with me, you are always welcomed."

Sasuke slowly nodded. "I would like that." He said quietly.

The Third Hokage nodded. "It is settled then. Sasuke will live with Sintary until he feels the need to move. The funeral will be held tomorrow morning. The village will take the day to clean up and mourn over this great loss. My condolences, Sasuke," he said tipping his hat and left sighing.

Danzo looked at the group before he left. "Sacuna, Otsutsuki, you will be requested to see the Hokage and I after this has settled." He said before leaving.

Once that door closed, the two older shinobi let out a steady breath. The tension seemed to slowly dissipate. Neither had necessarily cared for Danzo, but they hadn't felt such tension with him before. And what was with that foreboding message? Why would he tell them they would be summoned?

Sintary shook her head, sitting next to Sasuke on the bed. She rubbed his back gently as Kokuro took a seat in the chair. They both knew there weren't words to ease any of this. They could only hope that by moving through their day will help ease his pain like it usually did theirs.

"How are you feeling, Sasuke?" Sintary asked softly.

Sasuke stared at his lap blankly. "I want to get out of here." He said

Sintary slowly nodded. "Okay, okay. Let me get a nurse and see if we can get you discharged." She said quietly. "Kokuro will stay with you until then, okay?"

The young boy nodded.

Sintary got up and looked at Kokuro knowingly before leaving. She headed over to the nurse's station.

"Can I speak with the head nurse?" Sintary asked quietly. The other nurse nodded and went to get her. "Can Sasuke go home?" She asked once the nurse came over.

She looked over his charts and nodded. "Yep, he's free to go." She said. "Don't forget that psych evaluation for him. They won't let him become a shinobi without it now."

Sintary nodded. "I will." She assured the older woman before heading back towards the room.

"Sasuke?" Sintary asked softly coming in. "The nurse says you can leave now." She walked over and gently took his hand.

Sasuke got out of the bed holding her hand. "I need clothes…" he said softly.

Sintary nodded softly. "We can get them later on. Let's get you settled into my place. We can head through the market so we grab foods you like. I just stocked up on a bunch of things, but I want to make sure we have something for you to eat." She told him.

Sasuke nodded as they headed in that direction. Sintary on his right holding his hand while Kokuro – who hadn't spoken much – was on his left with a hand on his back gently. They headed through the food market getting a bunch of solemn looks. A lot of people tried giving Sintary the food for free, but Sintary refused. She paid for it out of her pocket. Kokuro carried the bags silently. The main thing that got was tomatoes; lots and lots of tomatoes.

Once back at Sintary's place, she changed the sheets while Kokuro put the foods away with Sasuke. She came back out and noticed Sasuke staring at all the pictures she had up around the television. There was a picture of her with her mother and father when she was born. There were a ton of pictures of their squad as they grew up. More pictures of her and the Uchiha brothers curtsey of their mother…. And a bunch of her and Itachi. Her heart twisted, and she could only imagine what Sasuke was feeling looking at them.

"You should get rid of those." He suddenly said turning to her.

Sintary blinked. "Excuse me?" She asked shocked.

"The pictures," he specified. "You should get rid of them."

Sintary slowly nodded. "I should take them down…" She replied sadly.

If Sasuke was going to be here, he didn't need to be constantly reminded of the brother and family he lost. She certainly wouldn't get rid of them… just merely tuck them away somewhere.

"I have a second bedroom, but it needs a little work. There's only an air mattress for when Kokuro spends the night, so I need to put some furniture in there for you, Sasuke. But it will all be for you – whatever you like. In the meantime, you can sleep in my bedroom with me. Okay?"

Sasuke nodded. "I would like that. Can I sleep now?" He asked looking up at her.

Sintary quickly nodded. "Of course. Come on, let's get you settled in. Do you want me to lay with you?" She asked.

The young boy shook his head. "No… I think I'll be okay."

The older girl nodded softly and got him settled in. She pulled the curtains shut so he could sleep better when the sun came up.

"I'll be just outside with Ko," Sintary reminded him before closing the door.

She headed over to the couch where her friend was sitting and sat next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. She pulled her legs up to her chest, leaning against him more.

"You feel it to right?" Sintary asked him quietly.

"Something's not right." Kokuro answered.

Sintary nodded. "This isn't Itachi. He wouldn't do this. I know him, you know him, we know him!" She exclaimed in a hush whisper. "We would have noticed something. I would have noticed something. I was with him the entire week. He seemed distraught, but over Shisui, clan duties, and a mission. Throughout the whole time I was with him though… he showed how loving he was. We danced, we cooked, we drew, we loved each other. I just… he…"

Sintary couldn't hold it back any longer. She started sobbing. Kokuro wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. She couldn't believe he was a cold hearted criminal who killed his entire family. She couldn't accept that the man that built her up would leave her by choice. She just couldn't.

Kokuro continued to silently rub his comrade's back. He certainly felt something fishy was going on, but he couldn't pinpoint it. Nor could he feel the same pain his friend was feeling. He would mourn the loss of a friend and would regret having to do battle with him; but at least he wasn't dead, right? Don't get him wrong, he felt his friend had been wrong, but crying over it wouldn't do anything.

Eventually, Sintary stopped crying. They got up and moved the junk from the other bedroom to the storage room. Sintary cleaned up the room making sure it was fit for Sasuke. She even removed all the pictures from her wall. It looked so empty now… but it was better for Sasuke. She soon heard the boy get up, and she hurried over to see him.

"Hey, Sasuke." Sintary greeted quietly. "Do you sleep okay?"

Sasuke shrugged. "So-so…" He replied. "Can we go to…. There… to get my clothes now?" He asked.

Sintary nodded. "Of course. Are you sure you don't want Kokuro to just go and get them?" She asked him.

Sasuke shook his head. "No… I want to try and go back."

The older kunoichi nodded. "Okay. We can just transport in there. Kokuro can do the jutsu with two people, and I'll be right there with you guys."

Sasuke slowly nodded. "Okay," he said just feeling numb inside.

Kokuro came over and placed his hand on Sasuke's back before the two disappeared in black smoke. Sintary vanished as well, heading back to the Uchiha Compound.

She landed in the room she normally landed in: Itachi's room. She looked around sadly. The room had always been so bare. He had never cared for decorations; he did see them as necessary. There was one hint to who he was deep down though. Sintary went into his drawer and dug through some of his clothes. At the bottom were a couple of pictures; their squad pictures as the grew and a picture of the two of them. As Sintary searched for the photo of them, she came up empty. She took a shaky breath, unsure if she should feel despair for not finding it, or relief that there's a chance he took it with him. Sintary felt both as the thoughts ran through her mind. At least he had a piece of her with him… but why would he take it if everything they stood for was a mere act? He didn't take any of the squad pictures with him, but he did the picture of her and him. Nothing added up to Sintary.

She placed everything back in its spot before closing the drawer and standing. She slowly made her way down to Sasuke's room and looked at the two. Sasuke had a bag full of clothes, his blanket, and one of his pillows to take with him.

"Do you have everything?" Sintary asked gently.

Sasuke nodded. "Everything I need."

She nodded. "We can go shopping for furniture today, if you're up for it."

The boy nodded. "Okay."

Sintary sighed quietly and looked up at Kokuro. The older boy shook his head, saying to let it go before he transported them home.

The broken-hearted girl went into her boyfriend's room one last time before leaving as well.

My final note here (if you've read this far) is about the quote. Stitches by Shawn Mendes is actually what inspired this whole thing. I imagined Sintary writing it and sending it to Itachi, but changed it to her writing it down as a coping method. Sintary's been plague with being sent on these seduction missions that bring about a lot of anxiety so she's 'been hurt before,' but Itachi leaving left her sore. His words cut deeper than a knife - I'm sure you all felt that. The whole breathing back to life concept comes because Itachi always got Sintary to calm down when things went bad and now... who's going to do that? The chorus is what really speaks to me because it is their relationship - and even after the fact. Everyone's trying to tell Sintary to let go of Itachi; that she's better off, but she can't even though she knows it'll be better. He watched her through battles, missions, anxiety attacks, and was always there for her. Now she has to pick herself up because she has to be strong for Sasuke. So, there's my little... explanation about where the idea kinda came from, and why it spoke to me.

Thank you to KnightsRoses, Sweet Petit, arigarciar, Ijustdon'tcare132, KyuubiNoPuma, pika-78, Rose 23527, ILurveManyAnimeBoys, xxRyuu-himexx, nathy13, HonestxxEyes, NinjaChipmunk, PityThoseWhoLiveWithoutLove-95, animefangirl0219, creven16, randomindividual467, darkxion, and OrangeBeanGamer for following/favorite-ing the story!

A special thanks to ILurveManyAnimeBoys, Rose23527, HonestxxEyes, and bunnyguest for their reviews!

I do appreciate all the feedback I can get. Please, please, please leave reviews. It does help me write more when i know my audience is enjoying my story.

Thanks again for reading!