**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.

Hello again guys! Wow. Seriously, you guys are the best. Yesterday: I reached 2,000 views for this story! Like, life goals. Right there! Haha. But, I mean it; couldn't have done it without you guys. So: Here's the next chapter in Dear Itachi.

"Secrets in a small town

They always get around

But the flame has been put out

And I am hearing

All this small talk

They whisper as I walk

In a house that's boarded up

So good luck

I'm no firefighter

I just need to breathe tonight

So sound the alarm

And there goes the night

Oh, oh, our love is running into a burning building

Oh, oh, our love is scattered ash with a burnt up feeling

Feel the heat so we started running

You know you saw it coming

But the memories are still in my mind

Burning like smoke and fire"

-Sabrina Carpenter, Smoke and Fire

"Pregnant?" The shocked kunoichi repeated. "No, no, nononono," she shook her head. "I'm not pregnant. I can't be! I'm – I'm on that special birth control shot for us kunoichi."

The head nurse looked at the charts in her hands. "You are, but yours expired ten days ago. That means you ovulated last week, and if you had unprotected sex, you could end up pregnant." She said looking at Sintary. "I ran two different tests. You came up pregnant both times."

Sintary stared at the woman before in absolutely disbelieve. There was no way… But she had ran two tests, and her logic was sound. Sintary shook her head as she felt her breathing become ragged and uneven.

"Holy… shit…." She managed to say between her quickening breath.

She looked up as the nurse was trying to tell her something, but she couldn't hear over the pounding of her heart. She distantly heard Kokuro yell her name, but she couldn't respond. The room started to spin, and she felt like she was swaying a bit. The room darkened, and she felt like she was falling.

Sintary slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry, and the room seemed dark. A figure loomed over her, and a voice slowly reached her ears.

"Sintary?"

It sounded young, and a tad scared… but definitely male.

Her vision slowly started to focus again, and the imagine became clearer.

"Sasuke…" She whispered through her dry-cracked lips.

The young boy looked down at her, worry etched into his hard features. He helped her slowly sit up and brought a cool glass of water to her lips. Sintary drank it, relinquishing in the feeling of her throat becoming moist again. She licked her lips to moisten them again once the glass was pulled away from her.

"What happened?" She asked quietly, her voice still a bit hoarse.

"Kokuro said you passed out in the hospital. He brought you back here after they released him." Sasuke explained to her. "Why did you pass out?"

Sintary thought back. What had caused her to pass out? "I don't remember." She said after a while.

"You had another panic attack," came Kokuro's voice from the doorway.

Sintary looked up at him. "Why?" She asked.

"You seriously don't remember?" He asked uncrossing his arms and walking over to her other side. "Sintary, you're pregnant."

"Pregnant?!"

Sintary blinked at the news, but she hadn't been the one to exclaim. That was Sasuke. Sintary pursed her lips together as she reprocessed this information.

"Yes… I'm pregnant…" She said slowly.

There was a silence throughout the room. There was a question to be asked, but neither male wanted to, and Sintary didn't want to answer that question.

Finally, with a slight quiver in his voice, Sasuke asked: "Who's the father?"

Sintary licked her lips again and took a deep breath. "Sasuke… I've only been with one man my entire life." She whispered. "It's Itachi's."

Sintary met Sasuke's gaze. His eyes turned hard, and his face twisted into a scowl. He got up abruptly and left the room in a storm.

"Sasuke, wait!" Sintary called reaching out to him, but watching as he slipped through his grasp.

She sighed and shook her head.

"Well…" Kokuro started. "I knew you two were close, but I didn't realize you were that close." He said. "You know, when we joked about you two kissing in a tree, I didn't really expect you two to kiss let alone… well, have sex with each other."

"Kokuro," Sintary said shortly. "Shut up." She threw a pillow at him.

The shinobi caught it easily. "I'm just saying: I never thought you too were at that level."

"We had our reasons. One being we love each other." Sintary explained simply.

"Loved." Kokuro correct. "You loved each other."

Sintary shook her head. "Love."

Kokuro narrowed his eyes. "Are you insisting that he still loves you? And you still love him?"

"Yes," she replied quietly.

Kokuro shook his head. "Sintary, he's a S-ranked murderer. People like that aren't capable of love; only manipulation. That is exactly what Itachi did to you – did to us all. He's the king of manipulation."

"Tsk. I hardly think so. Your commanding officer is this so called "king of manipulation.'" She spat his words back at him. "Look at what he's done to you."

"Don't you dare talk ill of Danzo-sama!" He immediately defended. "Doing so is considered treason, and we will not stand for anymore traitors in this village!"

Sintary stared at him long and hard, before sighing. "Oh Kokuro… how far you've fallen." She whispered.

"I have not fallen. I've risen to higher status, and serve an even greater purpose to my village." Kokuro said coldly. "Unlike you. You are the one who keeps falling."

Sintary glared as she got up from her bed and marched over to him. She stood at his side, prepared to leave the room all together.

"At least I can think for myself," she whispered hatefully in his ear before bumping his shoulder on her way out.

Sintary headed towards Sasuke's room. She gently knocked on his door. When she received no answer, she gently pushed open the door to find him lying in his bed. Sintary came around the side and sat down. She rubbed his back softly.

"Sasuke, can we talk?" She asked.

The boy was quiet for a while. "Are you keeping it?" He asked.

Sintary nodded. "Yes."

Sasuke shook his head. "I don't understand why you would want to keep it. Its father is a murderer."

"Sasuke, please," Sintary pleaded, "He's inn—"

Again, the scorching pain zipped through her. She grabbed her head as it felt like she'd been slammed into the wall a couple times. The pain forced her to fall off the side of the bed and land on the floor.

"It's the seal again, isn't it?" Sasuke asked looking down at her.

Sintary nodded, shuttering in pain.

"Just stop it then." He insisted.

"I can't," she said through her teeth. "Everything you know is a –AAHHHHHH!"

The pain increased as she banged a fist into the floorboards.

"JUST STOP IT!" Sasuke exclaimed looking at her. "It's causing you too much pain!"

Sintary glanced up at him through her hair. She was already covered in sweat from the pain. She was shaking with the violence of attacks, but she was torn. Sasuke needed to know the truth—they all did.

"Just stop," he said with a broken voice, "don't do this… please."

Sintary looked at the hurt in his eyes. She couldn't put him through this. She stopped speaking and slowly sat back on her knees as the pain faded and the tremors subsided. She slowly stood, her knees wobbling, but holding her.

Sasuke looked away from her. He didn't know what to do with her. She's was having his brother's child – which in his mind was a crime – but she was also subjugating herself to pain to try and tell him… something he didn't know about his brother. He didn't want to hear it in all honesty. Nothing would change his mind on his brother.

"Just go," he finally said once she was on her feet.

Sintary looked at him sadly before taking her leave. Kokuro was standing just outside of Sasuke's door.

"You should know better, Sin," he said shaking his head.

"But you all need to know," she replied.

"There's nothing to know." He told her.

Sintary shook her head as he helped her to her room. "You're all so ignorant."

Kokuro left in her his room and went to sit on the couch. The three of them stayed in the separate rooms, mulling over the news they had received.

It wasn't until dinner time that any interaction occurred. Sintary came out of room to cook dinner. Honestly, she didn't feel like doing anything. She just felt so depressed over the entire thing when she should be overjoyed. She couldn't find it in her to be happy though.

Sasuke and Kokuro joined her at the island table to eat. It was a simply grilled chicken salad. Sasuke's, of course, had extra tomatoes in it. The two boys eat their meals without much delay, while Sintary picked at hers. No one spoke the entire time which made it super awkward.

Sintary, deciding she was finished with her food, got up and started cleaning the kitchen. Sasuke moved to join her, but she shook her head.

"I've got this, go wash up and relax." She said quietly.

Sasuke slowly nodded before doing as she requested.

Kokuro took his chance to help out.

"Really, I got this. You can leave now." She said a bit harsher.

Kokuro sighed. "I can't leave." He said simply.

"Oh? And why not?" She asked.

"Orders. I am to protect you from any harm. You are caring an Uchiha after all." Kokuro replied.

Sintary shook her head. "Whatever. I still can clean the kitchen by myself."

Kokuro rolled his eyes and went to take a seat on the couch to watch some television.

Sintary finished cleaning the kitchen and sat down in her recliner to write in her journal. She looked back at the day before to see what the date was and was frozen to her spot.

June 9th.

Her heart sank.

'Happy Birthday, Itachi…' she thought. 'I hope you're safe.'

She held her book close to her aching heart and closed her eyes, sending a prayer his way. She had never been one of worship, but lately she would herself praying to… anyone really in hopes that Itachi was safe. That was priority number one.

Sintary lowered her book and composed herself as she felt Sasuke enter the room. He joined Kokuro on the couch. The two watched the television while Sintary wrote in her journal quietly.

Sasuke glanced over at Sintary, only to find her gone. He tilted his head back and saw the light in her bathroom was on. He hadn't heard her move.

"Are you going to see if she's okay?" Sasuke asked Kokuro quietly.

"No, she can handle herself," he replied simply.

The younger boy frown at that before getting up from his spot. He headed into her bedroom, and then into her bathroom. He pushed open the door and saw her leaning on the toilet.

Sasuke walked over to her and gently pulled her hair back for her as well as rubbed her back.

Sintary pulled back and wiped her mouth with the rag she had by her sink.

"I'm sorry you have to see this. It must be so gross." She said with a raspy voice.

"It's fine. I have Naruto in my class, and he's pretty gross," Sasuke said hoping to take her mind off her sickness.

Sintary chuckled at that. "I'll still pull my hair back so you don't have to keep doing this."

She slowly got up and brushed her teeth before pulling her long hair up into a bun like she would for a mission. She looked at herself in the mirror with her hair pulled back. She could almost hear Itachi's voice yelling at her to put it down… but he wasn't here… and she needed it to be pulled back. She wouldn't make Sasuke go through with this.

"Alright, back to the television? Or are you off to bed?" Sintary asked.

"I think I'll read a book, and then head to bed." He told her.

She nodded. "How about we start warm-ups in the morning and training in the afternoon? You're drawing close to your graduation date, might as well start teaching you how to fight like a pro."

Sasuke slowly smirked at that. "You mean it?"

Sintary nodded. "Of course. Are you willing to get up at five every morning?"

The young ninja nodded firmly. "Yes."

"Good. We'll start tomorrow. So, get some sleep." She said.

Sasuke nodded and wished her goodnight before heading to his room. He stopped by Kokuro and told him night as well and closed his bedroom door.

Sintary came out and grabbed her book before retiring for the night as well. She did not wish her comrade a goodnight. She closed her door and nestled in her bed. The young woman wrote and read for a few more hours before turning off her lamp and curling up under her soft blanket… a blanket Itachi had gotten her for her birthday. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she closed her eyes, said her prayer, and wished herself to sleep.

Strong shinobi set up traps around their homes because they are aware enemies will come for them. These traps are meant to alert the sleeping ninja of a disturbance around their home. So when one trips one of these traps, the shinobi is pulled from their sleep and ready for battle.

That night, one such contraption awoke the sleeping kunoichi. She shot up feeling the pull of her trap. Someone was approaching her apartment and at an alarming rate. She flung herself out of her bed and immediately grabbed her weapons bag. She slid to Sasuke's room and quickly woke him up.

"Sasuke, Sasuke," she urged quietly. "Wake up!"

The young boy groaned groggily. "What's going on?" he asked slowly waking up.

"There's an enemy nin approaching here, fast." She explained getting him out of the bed and handing him some kunai and shuriken.

They headed out into the living room cautiously.

In a flash of light, a figure appeared in front of them. It was clearly a man standing before them in the moonlight. His body was slanted towards them, but his face was turned away. He was covered in black from head to toe. It was hard to get a straight look at him. When the clouds rolled past the moon, he seemed to vanish. He was only visible in the moonlight which made him appear… there, but not there. It appeared her was wearing a loose fitted shirt that flowed in the wind with tight black pants secured at his waist with a black sash. He also had wisping bandages like black smoke.

The man slowly turned his head towards them, revealing a porcelain white mask that had a sinister look to it. Its mouth was open; lips curling back black, jagged teeth. The eye holes revealed very little; only black and white eyes. The most distinctive feature about the mask was the two protruding horns.

Sintary's eyes widen in realization as fear froze over her heart.

She was well aware of what that mask was, and what the user was capable of doing.

In that moment, she feared for her life as well as Sasuke's.

The man merely tilted his head, watching them.

In a blink of an eye, he was suddenly up and personal with Sintary. She could almost feel the evil radiating off him. The creature—for she wasn't sure if it was a man anymore—said nothing, nor did he do anything other than make sure she remembered his face before vanishing in another flash of light.

Sintary let go of the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. Her shoulders slumped as she tried not to have a panic attack.

"What the hell was that?" Sasuke asked drawing her out of her head.

"Something very evil." Sintary managed to say.

"But… he didn't do anything!"

Sintary shook her head. "He didn't have to. It's a scare tactic. He was meant to scare me; to get under my skin." She shuttered remembering how close he had gotten to her. "And it worked."

Sasuke, while creeped out as well, didn't see the whole point. He was tad disappointed there hadn't been a big fight since he had been ready for one.

Sintary, on the other hand, felt drained. She glanced at the clock and sighed.

"Well, you can try to go back to bed. We have a few hours before we have to get up." She said taking most of the weapons.

"I'm not sure if I'll be able to sleep." He replied as they walked back to his bedroom.

"Maybe just relax then. Let your body replenish itself a bit more. I'll see you in a few," Sintary said rubbing his back.

She closed the door behind her and headed to her room. Neither got much sleep afterwards, but Sasuke managed to doze a bit. Sintary stayed awake… actually fearing if she closed her eyes that thing would appear.

A few hours later, Sintary finished her chest bindings and pulled on her grey training tank top. It was tight skinned, but still allowed her the mobility she needed like her ANBU armor. She pulled on some black training shorts and wrapped her knees and ankles which were known to be weaker. She then also wrapped her ANBU mark, concealing it from the public.

The kunoichi then secured her hair up before heading out to see if her trainee was ready to go.

"All set?" She asked placing a hand on her hip.

"Yep," he said and yawned.

They headed out into the field behind her apartment and started warm-ups. They did the basics; stretch, flexibility, run, agility, cardio, strengthening exercises, and ended with a mediation cool down. The two headed inside to get ready for their day. Sasuke went for a quick shower while Sintary prepared at filling breakfast since they had worked out so hard.

Sasuke walked out of the house while Kokuro ended up walking in.

Sintary's soft smile quickly vanished as she cleaned up.

"So nice for my guard to finally appear," she said bitterly.

Kokuro rolled his eyes. "I got called off. Besides, what could have possibly happened?"

Sintary whirled around to meet him, very upset. "A shinobi got passed my traps and ended up in my house." She started.

"Well, you're alive so clearly he didn't do anything," Kokuro said languidly as he ate an apple.

"Kokuro, this is serious!" Sintary insisted.

"It always is with you, Sin," Kokuro butted in.

"Kokuro! He was wearing The Reaper's Mask! Shinigami's Mask!" Sintary exclaimed. "He could have done a lot worse, and he's still out there!"

Kokuro dragged his gaze from his apple to his old comrade. He sighed. "You're seeing things, Sin. Shinigami's mask is on the opposite side of the village in the Uzumaki's storage shrine. All that lack of sleep is really getting to you. Maybe you should see someone for that. Maybe for the anxiety too."

That made Sintary's blood boil. "I'm not seeing things, Kokuro! He was here wearing the mask! Sasuke saw it too!"

Kokuro rolled his eyes. "So dramatic," he said. "Fine. Let me finish this apple, and then we'll take a stroll over to the Uzumaki shrine where you'll see the mask is still there; untouched."

Sintary, in turned, rolled her eyes. "Like that will prove anything."

"It'll prove you're crazy." He said taking another bite of his apple.

"It will not!" She scowled.

"Careful, too much stress it bad for the baby," he commented and tossed his core away.

Sintary continued to scowl as they left her apartment and headed off to the other side of the village.

Sasuke was met by the boat load of fangirls when he arrived at the Academy. He immediately blocked them out as he took his seat.

Shikamaru had been laying on the seat behind him and noticed the other boy sit down. He sat up, regretting that his father had asked him to do.

"Hey, Sasuke," the other dark haired boy asked him leaning forward to keep his voice low. "So, um… is Sintary really pregnant with… his, child?"

Sasuke's eyes instantly narrowed. "It's none of your business, Shikamaru."

The other boy felt that sting, and sat back slightly in hopes of making a quick get-a-way if this got ugly. "Look, I know it's none of my business. It's just… well, my dad asked me to ask you. You know the rumors circulated around the village… he just wanted confirmation was all."

If Sasuke's eyes could narrow anymore, they would have. He was glaring and scowling at the Nara child. He was wishing death upon the unusually nosy boy. Thus the day the death glare was born.

"You tell him what I told you: it. Is. None! Of your business," Sasuke seethed.

Shikamaru's eyes widen as he put as much distance between him and the Uchiha boy. "Okay, okay. I'll drop it. Sheesh."

Sasuke turned around. Oh, he hated this day already.

If Sasuke hated this day, Sintary absolutely loathed this day.

The whole way to the Uzumaki shrine, people stared and whispered as she walked by. At first, she hadn't realized the gossip had been about her. It wasn't until they headed back from the storage unit – in which they found the mask there, untouched – that Sintary put two and two together.

And how did that occur?

People actually had the courage to walk up to her and ask her if she was carrying the traitor/murderer/criminal/piece-of-scum/any-other-bad-name-they-could-come-up-with's child. Not only that, but people would scowl and glare at her. They called her whore/slut/traitor/criminal/skank/evil witch/any-thing-else-they-could-think-of. AND! AND! Openly booed her.

"If you loved the village, you would abort the baby." One woman told her.

"If you were a respectable kunoichi, you would rid the world of the spawn of evil before it even came into this world," another man told her.

Another lady tried a different tactic: "If you love that baby, you would rid it of its miseries before they even start."

And then her comrade had something to say: "Oh, by the way: Happy Birthday."

That landed him a punch square in the face.

Yep.

Happy Birthday to her.

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, OrangeBeanGamer, terriblecupcakes732, Integral16, MickyLove, Elizabethcica, KHB123, FailingErin, MaidMaliya, Johana-98, ElephantLover220, and Bananarock509 for following/favorite-ing the story!

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

To Rose23527: I'll let you in on a little secret: yes. Sasuke is still going to leave. I can say Sintary will have no control whether he leaves or not, but Kokuro will actually try and stop him instead! It should be coming up within the next two chapters. Hope you enjoyed this one!

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 for a month now!