Ch14

"You asked me, Sasuke, of how I achieved the Mangekyou Sharingan," Itachi closed his eyes and spoke softly, "It's simple, It's your desperate will to achieve more power. You remember the scroll you found under the third tatami of the Uchiha temple?"

Sasuke's eyes twitched.

"Our Uchiha clan wasn't all the heroic figureheads that protected the village."

(Scroll)

Feared throughout all the lands, the Uchiha clan had been a rogue clan for generations. Lead by the head family, we traveled from village to village killing mercilessly and took as we pleased, leaving a trail of firry destruction behind. Nothing stood in our way with the final stage of the Mangekyou Sharingan.

We did not know why but we knew how to achieve such a power. A weapon of blood may only be achieved by blood was the saying we followed. Every 3 years, a cruel event was held within the clan. Our youth between the age of 10-13 were to battle to the death for the ultimate prize, the Mangekyou. This was our way of keeping the clan small and to weed out the weak as well. All who opposed were dealt with severely by our leader.

We were fearless and believed we were invincible until that one day when we arrived…here. The village of Konoha was a place, large for a city, but small to be called a town. Our leader had chosen it to be our next target. As the sun began to set behind the mountain with one man's face carved upon it, we began our assault. We did not get far. Immediately upon entering, we were confronted with the Hokage. Our best seemed like amateurs compared to him, who defeated them with a single swift blow. Even our leader who managed a decent fight for a short while was slain because of his stubborn refusal of defeat. Our entire clan could have been wiped out by this one man but instead, he gave us an alternate rout. He entitled the most important part of his village to those of us who still remained. He entrusted us with its security, to guard and protect the village and its people.

We, who had just come not long ago to destroy this village, were now entrusted with the village itself. From that day forward, we vowed to protect this village of Konoha and to serve under this valiant hero, The Hokage.

(End writing)

"The Uchiha clan's background?" Kakashi gulped a ball of air down his throat. His left eye seemed to feel a small tinge of numbness.

"That is true," another voice came as the group turned toward its origin.

"Ero-senin!" Naruto spat, "What the hell are you doing here!"

"I've come to tell you guys to return to the village immediately because the Akatsuki had set a trap for you but I guess you found that out already," the old hermit replied calmly and glanced at the fallen ninja, "What he had said so far is true."

Itachi didn't even open his eyes. "Naruto-kun."

The blond boy turned sharply.

"Your mother," he spoke quietly, "Is dead"

Something had struck the young boy then and there along with the shocked expression of all who was there. Sound seemed to disappear and a feeling came over him unlike anything he has ever experienced. It was as though his very soul was drowned into darkness. He raised his hands to his misty eyes. They were trembling. "no…" he chocked, "you're lying…you must be lying. She can't be dead. Not after all that, she can't be dead."

"I'm sorry," Itachi sighed.

"SHUT UP!" Naruto barked, launching himself with his fist drawn back. Jiraiya immediately grabbed the boy by his collar and pulled him back. The frustrated boy struggled to free himself in blind rage. "YOU'RE LYING! YOU LIE!" he roared repeatedly as he continued to stretch his arms, trying to grab hold of Itachi.

"Naruto, calm yourself NOW!" Jiraiya commanded.

The old man's shout seemed to have gotten through to the boy as he lowered his arm slowly. Looking down, he bit his lips and took in a deep breath.

A moment of silence hung in the air before Itachi gave a painful cough. "Sasuke," he spoke clearly as though nothing had happened, "lend me your ear."

The young Uchiha narrowed his eyes. After some time, he reluctantly bent over and waved Sakura away. As he bent over, Itachi raised his hand and gave the boy a poke on his forehead. "Forgive me Sasuke," he whispered as he pulled the boy in closer, "I was wrong with my methods."

"Is that all you have to say?" Sasuke growled coldly.

Itachi released a light chuckle and loosened his muscles.

Sakura narrowed her eyes at a peculiar red mass that flowed from underneath the young man's body. It was blood. Blood which she thought had stopped was flowing ever more intensely than ever. She jumped in and placed her hand back on the wound while the others watched her. "It's not stopping," panic was in her voice, "I don't get it, it stopped before, why isn't it stopping now!" She focused her chakura harder but blood still continued to flow. "Stop…come on, STOP!" She could hear his heart beat weakening under her palm, and weaker, and weaker until finally, his muscles relaxed and there was non. The others gathered in a tight circle as they gazed upon the fallen warrior draw his last breath. A calm smile remained lodged upon his face that seemed so fulfilling, appearing more like he was just sleeping. The pink haired girl sighed and removed her hands. "His gone," she spoke softly.

(night time)

It was another quiet night. It had taken them a good part of the afternoon scaling down the mountain side and they had not made much progress since. It was a quiet journey, no one spoke a word. Each was confined within their own thoughts. A stick and a bump on the ground now marked the spot of the fallen Shinobi while dust settled quietly upon its surface.

A rustle woke the sleeping girl. She rose slowly and looked about. The fact that he was missing did not surprise her. She had a feeling he would go off again. 'How many times has he gone off into the woods during the night in his life' she wondered. A heavy pressure of guilt fell upon her chest, 'I wonder how many of those times were cause by my heartless comments.' She got to her feet and looked around. Then, upon a branch of the highest tree, she spotted the red swirl of his jacket, hunched in an arch of his seated figure.

Naruto sat quietly, looking up at the stars while holding his knees together with his arms in a tight embrace. "Did I wake you Sakura-chan?" he whispered as he cocked his head to the side where the girl appeared a few moments later.

"I couldn't really sleep anyways," she replied, taking a seat beside him.

"Sorry," Naruto apologized as he turned his head back to the skies.

"It's fine," Sakura followed him to the sky as she began swinging her legs that hung under the branch. A small breeze brushed their cheeks and a pause hung in the air as the two gazed to the silver sparkles that embedded itself into the dark-blue heavens until Sakura released a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry about your mom," she consoled.

"…"

"Are you going to be okay?"

"…"

Sakura looked down sadly. "Sorry," she apologized softly, "it probably isn't my problem."

"I'm fine," Naruto replied, keeping his head tilted up.

Sakura looked up to the boy's face. 'His always fine, at least he always says he is.' But she could see how he truly felt. Not even he could hide the sorrow he held inside this time. There was a faint tear trail that flown from the corner of his eye to the bottom of his chin.

"Not like anything's changed," he said in a depressing way that made him seem out of character from his usual self, "So I learned today that my mother is dead. I've lived for 17years thinking my mother was dead. Now, I just go back to my old life. What's changed from before?"

"…"

"I've learned to accept that fact over the past 17years you know. I promised myself that I wouldn't cry over my own selfish wants. "

"Naruto, don't say that."

"Perhaps that's why I'm grudging myself about this thing so much right now. I've watched the other kids and their families as they went home biting my nails with jealousy and envy. You'd think that after 17years, I would be use to it by now. I thought that was within my grasp so I reached for it. But now that it's been taken away from me again, I'm stomping my feet and beating myself up about it. Guess I was too selfish,"

"Naruto, stop it!" Sakura said strictly.

"Hope," the young boy said with a pause. Sakura looked to him questioningly. "They say people live on because of hope for something better. I lived with nothing, and finally I was given a light to which I did everything I could to follow, but it's been taken away again. I feel like I lost my purpose in living Sakura-chan. I lost everything…twice."

A loud slap echoed as a hand swung across his cheek. He turned back slowly and looked at the girl who still held her arm at where it had stopped after the hit. "Why did you just do that!" Naruto asked, rubbing the sore spot of his cheek. Slowly, his eyes rose to hers. They were eyes of frustration, anger, pity, sympathy, eyes which showed a thousand emotions, leaving the boy not knowing what he should say or do but sit there, rubbing his cheek with his mouth open in a small gasp.

The girl softened her expression, then reached into her back pocket. "Do you remember this?" she asked as she pulled out a small, round, locket.

"What's this?" Naruto took it to his hand.

"Look inside,"

the blond shinobi examined it for a while then pressed on the top, making the small object pop open. There was a photo inside that consisted of 4 people. Naruto's eyes fixed upon the picture. 2 smiling faces, 1 angry expression, and 1 reluctant pout was outlined by the gold frame of the outer layer.

"That was the photo taken not long after we graduated and became part of Kakashi team7." Sakura smiled nostalgically.

"And…?"

"Do you remember what Kakashi-sensei's first lesson to us was?"

Naruto's eyes seemed to grow slightly wider with awe.

"It was teamwork. One for all and all for one, remember. That day, we shared our dreams, our goals, you still have to become Hokage and be recognized by the village right? Who says you have nothing to live for. What about Iruka-sensei, and Kakashi-sensei. What about Lee-kun or Neji-san. You're not alone Naruto, you have friends now, and if that's not enough, live for me…" Sakura finished off shifting her glance.

"Sa…kura…chan?"

"ANYWAYS!" Sakura coughed as she grabbed her locket, "Try to cheer up. You're Uzumaki Naruto, the future Kage of the fire country right?"

Naruto kept his eyes upon her as he watched her soft smile. Then, rubbing his eyes with his sleeve roughly, he smile back.

Sakura gave a nod and got to her feet. "I'm going to go back to sleep, don't stay up too late alright?" she prepared herself to jump to the ground.

"Sakura-chan," Naruto called just before she made her lunge. The pink haired girl glanced to him with her head slightly tilted. "thanks," he waved.

She gave him a gentle smile and replied, "You're welcome," before jumping off the tree and returning to their camp.

Near by, hidden under the shadows of the night, an old senin cracked a chuckle as he watched in secret. "He should be fine now," he spoke calmly.

"Yeah," Kakashi replied with his back turned to the old man and hands in his pocket.

"I thought maybe I should have talked to him but, it looks like someone else got to him before me," he laughed.

"They're growing before our eyes." Kakashi grinned, "Do you think they may be even stronger than us now?"

Jiraiya raised a brow and looked at the young boy that still sat in the tree. "Nah…" he shook his head.

"I'm starting to get old," Kakashi joked.

"Hey, I'm the one older than you by two generations you know," the old man shook his head with a sigh.

(Akatsuki Hideout)

"Itachi is dead," a clear voice reported.

"The time draws near," a reply came.

"It seems that he talked just before he went."

"It doesn't matter. Them knowing about the matters now wouldn't make any difference to the outcome of their fate now."

"Do you actually believe that it will be that easy?"

"…"

"…"

"All but one."

Silence.

The sky was still dark but a small bit of light showed its signs over the hills ahead. None of them managed to sleep comfortably that night. They gathered their things and grabbed a quick bite of the rice balls they had brought with them before taking off.

"Jiraiya-sama," kakashi nudged with his head.

"What?" the old man looked up as he pushed himself off another branch.

"When you just came to us, you confirmed what Itachi was saying was true. Does that mean that you knew about the scroll or the entire story?" Kakashi asked, returning his eyes to the small book he always held in his hand.

"Since you now know, and since Itachi is already dead, I will tell you," the old man breathed out slowly. The three kids turned their attentions to him as well. "The truth of the matter was only shared between the Hokage, the high counsil, Tsunade, and I. The third believed that open war would be too risky at the time against the akatsuki clan. The only ones that could even stand a chance to face them was he himself and the legendary three, or two since Orochimaru betrayed us. Perhaps that was a mistake. In doing so, we gave the Akatsuki further time to prepare. But you know, the old guy was all about peace. During the Uchiha-clan massacre, the third met with Itachi. At first, he had gone to arrest the boy but once he saw him, it was clear of what the truth was. Long story short, he acknowledged that the best method was indeed for Itachi to join the Akatsuki and ended the case with Itachi killing his own clan and abandoning the country."

In the back, Sasuke spat, biting his lips.

(2 days passes and the crew finally returned to Konoha. Tsunade received the news of Itachi's demise and another name was carved into the stone of heroes. Now, the fact that the Akatsuki had begun their movement is confirmed, the 5th gathered all jounins to a meeting for preparations to war. The meeting ended with the agreement that only jounins would participate and that anyone who is chunin or below is to assure the safety of all civilians. By the 5th orders, a letter was sent to Naruto and Sasuke allowing them to become Jounins if they wished to acknowledge the honor.)

"The letters has been sent Tsunade-sama," Shizune announced with a bow.

"Thanks a lot. Sasuke should be fine but when I think I'm letting Naruto become a jounin, there's just something about that, that feels unsettling," Tsunade laughed.

"I think he fights good enough to be a jounin now,"

"I think so too, which is why I wrote him that letter. It's his maturity that I'm not satisfied with,"

"Good point,"

A round of laughter erupted from the hokage's office as the two women remembered the idiotic things the blond haired misfit has caused. The laughter sounded forced but they didn't mind. Anything to brighten the endangered mood of the village at that moment was good enough for them. A moment of relief was all they wanted.

(outside Naruto's home)

"YES!" a loud cheer bombed out of the house as Naruto bursted out the door, holding a small brown envelope in his hand delicately. "I'm a Jounin!" he exclaimed and ran down the street with great excitement. Then, a sudden realization hit him, stopping his steps. "oops, the Hokage temple was the other way," he laughed to himself and began dashing to the opposite direction.

His feet slowed upon seeing a figure, walking up ahead, also holding a same colored object in his hand. "Sasuke!" he called with joy, "Guess what! I'm acknowledged as a Jounin!"

Sasuke didn't turn. Shoving his envelope in his pocket, he continued walking with his head tucked down to his jacket.

"Sasuke, you got the letter too right!" Naruto made his way next to him and nudged him with his elbow. "I know you did, I saw what you just put in your pocket. Isn't it awesome, we're gonna be Jounins!"

"…"

"Look at that. We didn't even need to go through the troubles of taking the exam. Although I was looking forward to seeing what kind of challenges the exam had to offer but, hey this works too. What you think Sas…ke?" the large smile across his face diminished as he gazed into his rivals eyes. "Hey Sasuke," he said with a low tone, "come on, you just got invited to become a Jounin. Don't you want to be a Jounin?"

"Naruto," Sasuke spoke with a deep voice and paused to turn his head away from the boy "I'm going to quit being a Shinobi…" he spoke with a definite voice. Silence filled the air. The wind glided slowly, flowing through the empty afternoon ally where the two stood.

End…

Reviews

Ming Shun: No Itachi? Lol

Kawaiineziumi: And so, I leave off with another cliffy lol.

Iiiris: I never really meant for this to be a happy comedy haha.

Melaniestar: You say die, he dies. Sorry for long wait, but its finally up!

Destiny1029: Thank you, I will keep updating but I don't know how long, be patient and I will get it finished