Title: Genuine Lies

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Summary: "How did you know of this?" "Because I was the girl Itachi saved the night the Uchiha clan died." Naruto's admission startled them all. After all these years, was Itachi really innocent? And who is Uzumaki Naruto? What other secrets is the duo hiding? ItaNaru

"You can't be serious Itachi!" Naruto cried out, keeping a firm grip on his companion's forearms and shaking them as the stood in a forest clearing less than a day from Konohagakure. "They'll slaughter you! You've risked your life too much, too often on this worthless mission."

"It's kept you safe," Itachi murmured softly. He stared down at Naruto, nearly half-a-head taller then his blond-haired companion. "I don't regret it. Besides, where would I go? I'm an S-rank missing-nin, most of the crimes I committed I did consciously."

Naruto fell silent, head bowed, as he thought over they're options. He looked up, vivid blue eyes gazing into deep black eyes. "Come with me. Come back to Konoha." He whispered softly, desperation laced within his words.

Itachi's eyes darkened and became unreadable to Naruto's penetrating gaze. "I can't. You know that. I don't even know why you suggested it Naruto."

Naruto growled in frustration. "The last ten years have been nothing more than a mission for you. All missions have some sort of documentation. I remember seeing oyaji-san putting it away and sealing it. I can get Tsunade to look at it!"

"Naruto," Itachi's voice was back to its normal, soft tone. "I can't go back. Not to Konoha. Sasuke's there and you know that he-"

"I'm sure Sasuke would understand if only he knew!" Naruto interrupted. His body trembled with suppressed emotions. "He's your brother!" he pleaded. "If he knew that Orochimaru was the one that…"

"Naruto, stop it. Listen to yourself." A soft, calloused hand rested on a whiskered cheek.

"Give me a chance." Naruto whispered harshly. His grip loosened on Itachi's arms as he lifted a hand to the one caressing his cheek. "Let me, at least, try."

"You forget kitsune, the secrets that you hid away with this mission."

"Do you think that matters? Your safety is, and has always been, more important than my coverts." Naruto bowed his head. "Let me try. Please."

Itachi seemed undecided. This young teen was willing to risk his mental well being for his own safety. Itachi didn't know what he did to deserve such a golden-hearted person as a, dare he say, friend.

"Okay."

x-x

Within two day, Naruto returned to Konoha. He told Itachi to wait for him in the Tea country in 3 days time. Weary from his mission as well as what he promised Itachi he would do, he marched up to Tsunade's office to give his report and his request.

"Naruto!"

Naruto spun as he looked up and saw Sasuke standing on a nearby rooftop. He watched as his best friend jumped down and landed softly beside him.

"It's about time you got back," Sasuke commented crossing his arms, as he took in Naruto's dirt- and bloodstained jounin uniform. "Come on, dobe." Sasuke turned, walking towards the Hokage Tower expecting Naruto to follow.

"Hey! I'm not a dobe!" Naruto grumbled as he ran to catch up. "And besides, why are you going to the Hokage's office? I thought you were on medical leave."

Sasuke tilted his head to the side, glaring at him. "I'm better," he said, crossing his arms stubbornly. "The doctors are the ones that won't leave me alone. I'm going to talk to Hokage-sama and get her to put me back on the active list."

Naruto snorted as he kept pace with his friend. Shoving his hands into his pockets he contemplated how he was going to ask Tsunade about Itachi. He figured if he could convince her that he was not under a jutsu and then show her where the mission scroll was then-

"Oi, dobe, you in there?"

Nartuo jumped, blinking his eyes. "Huh?"

Sasuke sighed, shaking his head. "You were staring off into space. I know there's not much stuff up there-" he tapped Naruto's head. "-so what in the world could occupy your attention?"

Naruto gave an uncharacteristic shrug. "It's nothing important. Forget it."

Sasuke glanced over a Naruto, not believing him for a second. After preventing him from going to Sound, he and Naruto had gotten closer. They knew each other too well to keep secrets hidden for long.

The two jounins entered the Tower and, after a word with the secretary and guards, climbed the stairs that lead to Tsunade's office. Sasuke knocked twice and upon hearing a muffled admittance, entered with Naruto not far behind him.

Tsunade raised her head and pushed a stack of papers that she had been working on, aside. "Brat," She greeted Naruto and gave Sasuke a short nod of acknowledgement. "Where have you been? You were scheduled to return here three days ago." She narrowed her honey-coloured eyes and glanced over Naruto's slim figure, checking for any injuries that he may have sustained that would have explained his uncommon tardiness. "Were there any problems with the mission?" She doubted it since it was a simple messenger mission, hardly more than B-class at worst.

Naruto shook his head. "No. No problems." To prove his statement he withdrew a simple beige envelope from his vest pocket. "I had given him the note on the eve of the new moon and he responded to it the following morning. That envelope is his reply."

Tsunade kept her eyes on Naruto as she tucked the envelope into an empty drawer to read later. "So what kept you? You're usually not late."

Naruto sighed and glanced briefly at Sasuke before returning his gaze to Tsunade. "I ran into someone on my way back at the Fire borders."

"Someone? Who was it?"

Naruto sighed and rubbed the nape of his neck restlessly. He hadn't quite figured out what to say and he surely didn't want to say it in front of Sasuke. He glanced again at his companion that stood off to the side, arms crossed and staring curiously at him.

"Naruto?" Tsunade prompted, concerned about his evident discomfort. "Who was it?"

"Uchiha Itachi."

Sasuke's sharp intake of breath made Naruto shift his weight from one foot to the other and back, wishing once again that his friend wasn't in the room.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes. Uchiha Itachi was an S-rank missing-nin from the organization Akatsuki, a group of dangerous missing-nins determined to capture and absorb all demon-bearers, Naruto included. "What did he want?"

"To talk."

"About what?"

"I need to ask something of you."

The abrupt change of subject startled Tsunade. Sasuke stayed rooted to the spot on the floor, fists clenching and unclenching in barely restrained anger.

"It has to do with Itachi." Naruto responded to the silent questions.

Curious and worried, Tsunade nodded her head, letting him continue.

Knowing that this moment was important and becoming defensive, Naruto straightened his spine, clasped his hands behind his back, and stubbornly tilted his chin as he gazed humbly at Tsunade. "I am aware that this question will cause discomfort but for many people's sake, I must ask it."

Assuming the role of Godaime Hokage, Tsunade sat up straight, understanding the seriousness of the moment. "Go on."

"I formally request that Uchiha Itachi be removed from the status of missing-nin and be reintegrated into the ranks of Konoha."

No one spoke and Naruto stood under the penetrating gazes, cerulean eyes never wavering.

"Why?"

Naruto sighed, realizing that in order for them to understand he would have to bear his soul to them, regardless of the consequences or the possible hatred and disgust.

Naruto swallowed past the lump in his throat. "Itachi ran away from Akatsuki two months after discovering their plans to destroy Konoha to get to me. Akatsuki believes he is on a reconnaissance mission for them and he was told to report in a weeks from now. He has highly classified information on the details of their campaign and is willing to give them to us in exchange of a safe refuge."

Tsunade shook her head. "You misunderstand Naruto. Why should we trust him? Why should we risk thousands of lives to let him come back?"

"He is willing to fight and protect his home. He doesn't want to see it destroyed by Akatsuki."

"Home?" Silent up 'till now, Sasuke suddenly spoke up, eyes flashing to red in anger. Anger towards his brother that betrayed him and hatred to Naruto – the one person he considered a friend – for supporting and standing up for Itachi in the presence of the Hokage. In fury, Sasuke grabbed the front of Naruto's shirt and pulled him closer until they were nearly nose-to-nose. "Home?" he spat out, discovering that he wanted to rip away Naruto's control and was pleased to find Naruto's calm gaze faltering. "This place stopped being home to him when he killed my family."

Naruto closed his eyes, "You're wrong."

"Wrong?" Sasuke spat out, he pushed Naruto was, scowling as he saw his friend stumble back a few feet. "I believe it is you that is wrong, traitor." He stomped away, never looking back.

Naruto remained standing, but he closed his eyes against the pain. Every footstep that Sasuke took away from him was like a dagger to his heart. He found that the loneliest sound in the world was that of the large oaken door slamming shut.

Tsunade saw Naruto struggle with the pain, painfully pushing it away. When the blond teen opened his eyes once more they were blank, guarded heavily against the world.

Tsunade got up and went around her desk to Naruto, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder.

Naruto couldn't help flinching at the gesture. He closed his eye then opened them, staring steadily at Tsunade.

"What did you mean, Naruto?" Tsunade asked softly, resting both hands on Naruto's shoulders and gazing into his eyes.

Naruto stepped back, forcing Tsunade to release him. He then closed his eyes and delved into his painful memories. When he spoke, his voice was cold and guarded, "Behind the desk there is a hidden door that leads to a large library. I need you to go in there."

Tsunade was startled; she had believed that only the Hokages and the architect knew of that room. Still, she did as he asked, knowing that he would never have purposely put himself through the massive mental and emotional pain that this must have been causing him. She walked to her desk and placed her hand against a picture of the first Hokage of Konoha, her grandfather. She inserted her chakra forcefully into it and a door silently slid open revealing a large room. The room was filled with bookcase from floor to ceiling and a large, red chair sat in the middle.

"It hasn't changed," Naruto whispered, swallowing the lump that clung stubbornly in his throat.

Tsunade spared a glance at Naruto before stepping into the room; Naruto followed behind her and the door slid back into place. The room was lit with many soft-glowing lights and they were able to see clearly despite that lack of windows.

Naruto sighed, "The third bookcase on the left, top right-hand corner, there is a book called 'No Home is Without Secrets', push it."

"What are you talking about?"

Naruto sighed and walked to the bookcase himself. Finding the book he pressed it gently. Nothing happened.

"Naruto. How did you know that this room was here and that book was there?"

Naruto tilted his head, gazing sad eyes at Tsunade, "I've been here before, with Sarutobi-sama."

The sound of gears shifting filled the room and the chair swiveled, first in one direction, then the other, as if turning a safe combination. Finally, it shifted, moving to the left. It then raised and beneath it, a large pillar pushed up.

Naruto walked over to it and knocked once, twice, then twice again. A small panel opened in the pillar and revealed a large quantity of gold, scrolls, and other valuable items, including the deed to Konohagakure no Sato.

Naruto reached in and pulled out a scroll. Turning it over in his hands before handing it to Tsunade.

Tsunade took the scroll and sat in the chair as the pillar lowered and the chair moved back into its original position. Her eyes widened as she read over the scroll silently. The words on the paper, signed and sealed by the Sandaime Hokage, informed her of Itachi's innocence, of Orochimaru being the true murderer of the Uchiha clan, and of a small girl burdened by fate.

According to the scroll, Itachi had been on duty the evening of the Uchiha massacre and had heard a small cry for help. Investigating it he had discovered a young, 7-year-old Kazama Naruya being sexually assaulted by four drunken jounins. He had saved her and had notified the Hokage. Then, sensing a large amount of chakra, left Naruya in the Sandaime's care whilst he investigated. The young captain had discovered the Uchiha district in ruins, corpses and blood scattered everywhere. Itachi had ran to his house to discover his father fiercely protecting his dying mother's still form from Orochimaru only to be struck down. Heartbroken, Itachi had charged the perpetrator and discovered that the snake sennin had only wanted his own Mange Sharingan that the teen had acquired upon killing his best friend for treason against the Hokage.

Orochimaru had escaped and Itachi was left to face his brother alone in their bloodied and soiled home. In desperation, the ANBU Captain had told his brother that it was he, not Orochimaru, which had murdered their family. Running, scared and distraught, he then informed the Sandaime what had occurred. The Sandaime wrote a report and handed Itachi a mission to both protect him and benefit the village: infiltrate Akatsuki. The young Kazama girl, frightened and wary, had witnessed the exchange and she too, had been forced to change her appearance and personality to protect her. Together the three individuals had sealed the scroll that explained all of it, and were ordered to never speak of it unless under dire circumstances.

Tsunade read through the scroll once more, making sure she hadn't missed anything vital. Then, she had checked for authenticity. Satisfied, she had rolled it back up and silently stared at the young man in front of her, noticing his guarded expression and tense stance. She thought that it must be dire circumstances indeed if Naruto revealed this to her. Still, the Godaime Hokage had her suspicions.

"Naruto," the soft command had the young jounin raising his head and looking at the blonde-haired woman sitting in the chair, one arm across her lap and the other propped atop the armrest, rubbing her chin absently.

"Hokage-sama," Naruto replied.

"How did you know of this?"

Naruto closed his eyes and opened them after a brief moment.

"Because I am Kazama Naruya," he stated softly and sincerely. His vivid blue eyes gazed sorrowfully at the Hokage. "I was the girl Itachi rescued that night."

W00T! New story! I'll try to updateAngel in my Eyes and Rurouni Shinobi as soon as possible. Until then. Please enjoy.