**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

Only a week now you guys! Hope this chapter doesn't kill you too much.

Nacheell: I hope this kind of clears things up. Since I did intentionally skip a couple days' worth!

Check out the blog ( Dear Itachi News . blogspot . com). It gives you the latest updates (when I can actually get something out there), teasers, and pictures. In between chapters, I try and work on those pictures I promised, but I'll start doing little facts about Dear Itachi. So if you have any detailed-ish type questions, ask away and I'll answer them there!

Without further ado:

"We know one another's faults, virtues, catastrophes, mortifications, triumphs, rivalries, desires, and how long we can each hang by our hands to a bar. We have been banded together under pack codes and tribal laws." - Rose Macaulay

He was not happy.

He was pacing the dusty stone floors of his cell like a caged animal. An animal that had been forced to surrender and forced to be declawed. He had no idea what was going on in the outside world. All he knew was that his brother had been in bad shape.

He rolled his onyx eyes.

Looks like his brother had been deceiving him still.

"Uncle Sasuke?" The small boy asked him.

The man in question looked at the youngster on the other side of his bars. The older man then looked up at the shinobi who held his nephew.

"What?" Sasuke asked, the words coming out harder than necessary.

The young boy was no stranger to his uncle's short temper. "Where's mommy and that other man?"

"I don't know." Sasuke gritted out. He loathed not knowing.

"I'm assuming at the hospital," Kokuro said quietly.

"Are you going to talk to the man when he gets better?" The boy asked.

"I don't know, Kazuki." Sasuke said sighing.

"But you promised." His nephew reminded him.

The older shinobi closed his eyes as he took a deep breath to calm himself down. He was glad the younger boy was on the other side of these bars.

"I don't know if he'll be able to talk." He replied.

"But he said you two would talk more later…. And then, he got sick." Kazuki said trying to piece things together.

"He wanted to drop it." Sasuke said.

"He probably felt it coming on and wanted to end the conversation at the point you two got to." Kokuro piped up.

The Uchiha looked at the man with hard eyes. "Did you know?" he asked.

"Know what? That Itachi was sick? No!" Kokuro denied. "He was fine five years ago."

"He was fine when two days ago when we fought. He was fine yesterday when you two left to come here." Sasuke seethed.

"Maybe he suffered internal bleeding from the attacks, and just didn't say anything. Itachi's not the type of person to express he's in any pain." The older shinobi tried explaining.

"Someone would have noticed something though." Sasuke insisted.

The white haired shinobi shook his head sighing. There would be no appeasing the young Uchiha. Then again, there never was.

Sasuke stared up at a corner. He and his brother still weren't on equal terms – no they were far from that. The younger had barely gotten the confirmations he needed from his older brother. He didn't even know the full story at this point.

But he had still rushed to save Itachi.

What had driven him to try and save the person he hated so much?

Sasuke shook his head remembering this feeling of dread when his brother had started to cough. Once he saw blood, Sasuke had seen his brother collapse before he had happened, and just knew Itachi would not make it by the time Sintary had come back.

So he had taken a risk and hurried them all to the village; consequences be damned.

"He'll pull through," the pinkette medic said softly.

Sintary panted looking at the fallen shinobi before her. They had been working twelve hours repairing his organs and trying to determine the source of his disease. At the end of it though, he had slipped into a coma leaving them unable to determine whether or not they had been successful in his healing or not.

The black haired woman was covered in blood and was exhausted. The head medic, the pinkette actually, had made her sit out several times to make sure she didn't do anything to strain the unborn child. But Sintary had made sure to max herself out; she made sure she put all her effort into saving her love.

"Come on," the pinkette urged softly. "Let's get you shower, changed, and fed. There's nothing you can do here."

"But he's stable?" Sintary asked still worried.

"He is. We repaired every organ and tissue in his body. His lungs are like new; all the fluid was drained and we stopped the leak so there shouldn't be any blood." Sakura assured her.

The two slowly walked out of the hospital room, closing the door behind them. Two ANBU Black Ops were stationed by the door and the whole room was sealed for protection. It was in the furthest wing of the hospital so there was less activity. The less people who knew about the infamous missing-nin being there, the better. There was also a security clearance to get into the wing to enforce this secret.

Sintary was grateful that there was the extra protection around her beloved. She was also glad for all the medical help he had received. But it got her wondering…

"Sakura?" She asked softly. "Why did you help save him?"

The pinkette looked at her while she thought. "Because Lady Hokage asked me to."

Sintary nodded at that as she looked forward. "So you healed an enemy of the village – even though it might have been better to just let him die – because she asked you too?"

Sakura nodded. "I trust she knows best, and that there's a good reason she's doing this. Lady Hokage isn't a very lenient person, so there has to be something going on to warrant this."

The black haired woman slowly nodded at that. They showered, changed into a pair of scrubs, and headed to the cafeteria before settling in the head medic's office. The food was bland, but giving how hungry she felt, she didn't complain.

"Hey Sakura?"

"Yeah?"

"There is a reason Tsunade healed Itachi…" Sintary started softly.

She didn't know if the Hokage would be upset with her for telling Sakura, but given that the latter had helped save her love's life… Sintary thought it was warranted… The pinkette was also friends with Naruto, and both fought every day to bring Sasuke back to Konoha… This affected all of them. They needed to know.

"I don't know exactly what you know about the subject… but what you've heard is a lie." Sintary started again. She took a deep breath to calm herself. "Itachi's innocent."

Sakura's green eyes widened in slightly disbelief. "He—"

Sintary shook her head, stopping her. "Let me finish." She said before looking at the girl. "Back then… there was some tension between the Hokages and the Uchiha clan. The First Hokage and, at the time, the Patriarch – Madara – brought the Leaf Village into being. They made peace and were supposed to rule together. However, their views became too different on how to run the village. Madara went to his clan and wanted to plan a coup to overthrow the Hokage and take the village, but the clan refused to fight. Madara then defected and brought the Nine-Tailed Fox back to destroy the village. He failed, of course, and his battle with the First Hokage created the story behind the Valley of the End. The Second Hokage had very little trust in the Uchiha clan. He created the Uchiha Police Force as a way to monitor them, and the clan began to feel Madara's fears. In the brief time of the Fourth Hokage, the Nine-Tailed Fox struck again, but because the Uchiha clan could control it, they were absent from the defenses… though it could have saved the Fourth's as well as other lives…" Sintary said nostalgically since she had remembered the event so vividly. "Since most of the village was destroyed, clans were reassigned and rebuilt… the Uchiha clan – at the plans of Danzo, may he burn in hell – was shoved into the furthest corner of the village without a say. It was then the clan started putting pressure on Fugaku – Sasuke and Itachi's father – to lead a coup. The clan placed their members inside the ANBU as a way to learn the Third Hokage's ways, but these shinobi became wary of the clan's motives… Itachi was one of these members. He was a double agent… he worked for the Uchiha clan as well as the village… he couldn't help but to be torn…" Sintary sighed as she felt like she was opening old wounds. "One night, after he lost Shisui, he reported to the Hokage and the elders what had happened at a clan meeting… Danzo and the elders deemed there was no talking the clan out of this. Lord Third wanted to try and negotiate, but he was overruled… Danzo… that damn man, told Itachi either he could follow through with the coup with the rest of the clan, and be killed among them… or…" Sintary choked back on tears that threatened to come up. "Or he could be the one to annihilate them, but keep Sasuke alive."

"Why didn't he choose just to end it all?" Sakura asked while she was moved, she just didn't understand. "He would have never had to gone through killing his family, and Sasuke wouldn't have suffered."

Sintary took a breath to clear her head. She had expected skepticism. "While I don't know his exact thinking, I know Itachi… I know Itachi loved village, he hated wars and killing the innocent, and he loved his brother above all else. Itachi saw a war brewing, and certainly didn't want to put Sasuke in the middle of it. We grew up during war… and it was awful. Itachi his little brother to experience what he went through. He also didn't want Sasuke to have a bad look on his clan, or the village. That's why Itachi took on the burden of being the bad guy."
Sakura slowly nodded looking at the other woman. While the thought was touching, it was still hard to see the man that tormented her teammates. "But then why did he join the Akatsuki?"

Sintary looked at her hands gently, and a small smile crossed her lips. "To protect his village…"

The pinkette tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"Itachi must have had heard of the Akatsuki previously and knew their plans would affect the village in some way. He's been supplying the village with knowledge to protect them." Sintary told her softly.

"But why did he come after Naruto time and time again?" Sakura insisted.

"Sakura… you've seen and heard how strong Itachi is. Do you think if he was really after Naruto that Naruto would still be with you right now?"

The other woman's eyes widen at that thought. She had seen Itachi fight. He had taken down both Sasuke and Kakashi, and even Jiraiya was wary of Itachi's abilities. Plus, there was his partner, Kisame, who was even physically stronger. They could have easily taken Naruto all those years ago when he was still training… yet, she had heard they ran away.

"So even after… the village turned against him… Itachi remained loyal to them…." Sakura concluded.

Sintary nodded softly. "He would give his life in a heartbeat for this village… for Sasuke…"

A silence lapsed between the two as the information settled in Sakura's brain. She looked at it from every angle, trying to determine whether the other female was being truthful or not. Could the man she viewed as an enemy basically all her life be the one protecting them all from war? Were his intentions really in favor of the village? Of Sasuke? This had been the man Sasuke had told them inexplicitly that he was going to kill. Her teammate had dedicated everything to bringing down his older brother… he had left her to go to Orochimaru for power to kill this man. And yet… it had all been in vain… because of a lie his brother spun in, supposedly, Sasuke's best interest.

Even if she accepted Itachi hadn't been to blame for the Uchiha Massacre, that meant believing that the people in charge of Konoha had used him as a pawn. While Sakura never liked Danzo, nor did she truly care for the elders after much encounter with being the Hokage's apprentice, she couldn't believe the beloved Third Hokage would allow this to happen… however, he had...

"Does… does Sasuke know?" Sakura finally asked.

Sintary nodded softly. "He does."

Sakura paused before asking another question, "then where—"

"Sakura!" A loud voice exclaimed bursting into the room.

It was none other than Naruto himself. He looked out of breath and quite shocked.

"What is it Naruto?" Sakura asked looking up at him.

"Sasuke… I heard Sasuke's been captured and is in the village prison." He said panting.

Sakura's green eyes shifted towards Sintary. "Is this true?" Her voice quivering with hope.

The dark haired woman nodded. "It is. He's there now with my son and Kokuro. They're probably awaiting the news anxiously."

"Well then we have to go and see him!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Naruto," Sintary said sharply drawing his attention back to her. "You need to keep calm. The Hokage doesn't want this getting out just yet."

"What, why?" He asked.

"There's more to this than just Sasuke returning to Konoha." She tried explaining.

"Like what?" He inquired confused.

"I'll… I'll explain once we get there. I don't want anyone over hearing us." Sintary told him.

Naruto's blue eyes glanced between Sintary and Sakura. "What are you two telling me?" He asked feeling left out.

"A lot, Naruto," Sakura told him honestly. "But it'll probably be better once we're all together to explain everything."

"If you say so…." The blonde boy said not sounding so sure.

"Why the fuck did you bring them here?" The young Uchiha seethed.

"Sasuke! Language!" Sintary exclaimed glaring at him.

"You know how I feel about them! I don't want to see them!"

"Well that's too bad, Sasuke." Naruto said firmly. "We're not leaving you."

The venomous boy knew he was cornered. He couldn't go anywhere, nor did he have the power to abolish them completely. Instead, he continued to do what he did his whole life: ignore them.

"What's Itachi's status?" He asked turning towards Sintary. He wouldn't let his brother die before hearing the entire truth. After that…. He wasn't sure.

"He's in a coma." She said sitting next to Kokuro with Kazuki.

"A coma!?" Sasuke yelled.

"Calm down," Sintary said gently rubbing her son's back

"Don't fucking tell me to calm down! You were gone forever with him! And – and all you come back with is that he's in a fucking coma!? That's bullshit!"

"Sasuke," the older woman said. "I said watch your tone. I'm warning you now."

"Don't you dare threaten me," he spat at her. "I will say whatever the fuck I want, whenever I fucking want to."

"Okay, I've heard enough," Naruto said and went to grab hold of his teammate through the bars.

But before he could, Sasuke fell back suddenly gasping for breath. It felt like something was crushing his chest, making it harder to breath. The pain then spread outward. It felt like every muscle was being pulled and strained and his bones felt like they were breaking into pieces. This pain was worse than when he had undergone his original Curse Seal transformation three years ago. It then went to his head and a mind crushing headache pounded through. There was so much pressure behind his forehead. It then moved back over to around his heart and it felt like someone was physically squeezing it, leaving him to gasp sharply in pain and feel dizzy.

Then, whatever had possessed him, left. He was covered in a thin layer of sweat, and was out of breath. While the pain had stopped, he could still feel it faintly all over.

"What was that?" Naruto whispered in utter shock.

"Are you okay, Sasuke?" Sakura asked worried.

"He'll be fine," Kokuro spoke up looking between the two.

"I warned him," Sintary stated watching Sasuke.

"Wait, you did that?" Naruto questioned looking at him.

"But you didn't even lay a hand on him. Was it Genjutsu?" Sakura pressed.

"It's my bloodline. Unique to me and maybe Kazuki." Sintary explained looking down at her son. "It's deadly and dark. I don't prefer to use it, but it does have its uses. I can control the nervous and cardiovascular system of the human body without touching my targets. I used it to aid in surgery," she said more directly to Sakura whose eyes widened in realization.

"But Sasuke didn't do anything to you!" Naruto argued confused over all.

"I warned him to watch his tongue," Sintary said firmly. "Scolding him wasn't working, and neither would have a beating. He needed to know that I wasn't messing around."

"Mommy?" Kazuki asked softly looking up at her. "I'm hungry."

Sintary nodded softly looking at him. "Come on… let's get you something to eat, then I can show you our house."

"You mean our home?" He questioned.

"I'm not sure if it'll be our home." His mother told him. "We might move somewhere bigger where you can have lots of room. But this will do until daddy gets better."

Kazuki nodded softly as his mother stood up, carrying him.

"Kokuro, you want to come with? We can leave the three of them to talk and sort things out." Sintary asked her best friend.

"Yeah sure." He said getting up with them. "Later guys."

The two headed out into the light of the village. Sintary looked around seeing little change from the last time she had been there, but it just felt good to be home again. They didn't stay out long because both just wanted to get cleaned up and to rest. Sintary cleaned up Kazuki after he ate while Kokuro used her other shower. After Kazuki was bathed, Sintary showered herself before looking at her best friend.

"Your hair's super long." She said softly.

Kokuro looked back at his hair. It was to his waist at this point; though never cutting your hair for 5 years did have that effect.

"Yeah, I guess it is." He said shrugging. "I guess I could have it cut."

"Come sit down. I've got a pair of scissors here somewhere." Sintary said looking around.

"You? Cut my hair? I don't think so." Kokuro said warily.

"Oh, shut up." Sintary said. "I cut mine, Kazuki's, and Sasuke's."

His grey eyes watched as she found the scissors and brought him to her vanity in her room. She dusted off the mirror and made sure Kazuki was comfortable on the bed before turning her attention to Kokuro.

"So how short do you want it?" Sintary asked brushing through his hair first.

"Uhh… remember how short it was when I was a kid?" Kokuro asked her.

Her blue eyes widened in shock. "Really now? You want it that short?"

"Yeah. I think it'll give me a more mature look." He told her. "Besides, if I want to grow it out again, I can."

Sintary took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay." She said and started chopping away.

White hair fell in chucks to the ground as it went from waist length, to his shoulders, and then finally just around his face.

"Are you sure you don't want some hair framing your face?" Sintary asked as she snipped more away.

"I'm sure." Kokuro said. "Just cut it off."

She sighed before cutting off the fronts and framing it to his face better. The rest was pretty easy to finish up and she finished in no time.

The white haired boy looked at himself in the mirror. He almost didn't recognize himself. He was so used to his hair surrounding him and flowing behind him. But as he ran his hand through his hair, he realized that it was gone – truly gone. There was a weight that lifted off his shoulders too as he looked himself over.

Gone was his long hair that represented the past.

Gone was Tsuki; his almost demonic state of mind that Danzo lured up.

Now he had the new hair that started to grow.

Now he had a future that looked new and bright.

But there was still that voice in the back of his head. A chilling voice that was more frequent.

'I'm coming.'

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, Bananarock509, nacheell, LadyLunaTwilight, slowbro0609, CommanderCats, juury, Katelynn Snow Fox, sierra halle, Crazedstill99, Ne Ne Papa Ne Ne Mama, scarlet-angle-13, kyoko minion, To'M'L Kuran, 123kittycat1000, PunkRock DancerChick, Luna-Zeta, licialowoke1, jamal douglas, and HulkIsHappyfor following/favorite-ing the story!

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