The next day...

"Don't forget Kireina-san. You said you would tell us your story!" Naruto piped up as they hit the road after a long night's rest.

Kireina nodded, "As you know, I'm descended from the Uchiha family and the Hyuuga family. My grandfather wasn't able to use the Byakugan, but he was very skilled at using the Sharingan. I would say even better than your brother, Sasuke. He was able to achieve 'Mangekyou Sharingan' without shedding innocent blood. My great aunt was the opposite. She was able to use the Byakugan, but unable to use the Sharingan. My father received both bloodline limits but was unable to harness both effectively at the same time. He could use the Byakugan but was unable to master any Hyuuga family techniques. His use of the Sharingan was even poorer. His brother was unable to use either. I was the first to learn how to use both. My mother's side had the chakra bloodlines and although my mother had received both, she too, was unable to use both effectively. Once again, I was the first in that family to receive both and have the ability to use them to their full extent and more. Because of my bloodlines I graduated from the academy at 6, a chuunin at 7, I was a jounin at 9, and by the time I was 11 I was an elite jounin and ANBU captain for Hidden Sand."

"That's better than Itachi," Sasuke murmured.

"Ano, that means you were ANBU captain when Gaara's father was Kazekage, ne?" Naruto asked.

Kireina frowned, "Hai. I never approved of the way he treated Gaara and often voiced my opinions, but that's later on in the story."

Kakashi interrupted, "It wasn't only because of your bloodline limits."

Kireina scowled at him, "Well, I'm not trying to out brag anyone here."

Kakashi smiled merrily, "Continue with your story."

She frowned at him, "As I was saying, after I was ANBU captain for 5 years I ran away from Sand to further my training. I wasn't declared a missing-nin though because of my family's influence and because I had told my parents I would be leaving. I wandered around for awhile and picked up different skills. During the 3 years that I wandered outside Sand, I met interesting people. I met a few missing-nin who were actually very decent and they had been classified as that simply because their village feared their power. They taught me several things about survival and I learned more high jutsus from them. I also went to different villages and learned their special techniques. Then I stumbled upon a tiny village full of skilled ninjas, Yukigakure, where I met an old lady who taught me Taijutsu and more high level jutsus. After those three years I returned to the Sand and befriended Gaara. After almost 2 years, I found out the Sand had allied themselves with that snake Orochimaru, so Gaara urged me to run away for fear that Orochimaru would try to use my bloodlines for twisted reasons. After the chuunin exam and the attack on Konoha, I returned to the Sand to help support Gaara. He taught me a few things too."

"Wow, are you better than Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked.

Kireina shrugged while Kakashi nodded his head vigorously next to her.

"You forgot something," Kakashi reminded her.

Kireina stubbornly shook her head.

"Kakashi-sensei, how do you know this?" Sakura asked.

Kakashi grinned sheepishly, "I get around a lot and plus, I'm a nosy person. I dug her story out of her last night."

"Oh. If you don't want to tell us Namino-san, you don't have too," Sakura said politely.

"Kireina," Kireina said.

The others looked at her in confusion.

"Just call me Kireina," she said smiling.

Sasuke looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"What is it Sasuke-kun?" Kireina asked her younger cousin gently.

"Ano...Itachi killed all of my family, so I haven't had any around in a long time. I kind of miss it," Sasuke hesitated, "Can I call you Reina-nee-chan like Gaara does?"

Everyone looked surprised except for Kireina. She immediately wrapped Sasuke in a hug.

"Of course you can. I'd be proud to have an otouto (brother) as fine as you," she whispered.

The other three smiled while Sasuke slowly wrapped his arms around her waist.

Thud.

A kunai flew from the bushes and hit Kireina who poofed into a log.

"Kawarimi no Jutsu? Impossible. I didn't even see any seals!" someone complained stepping out of the forest.

Kireina appeared behind Kakashi smirking, "You should know better than that Tanayo."

Kakashi started, "Akamisu Tanayo? Missing-nin of Hidden Rain?"

Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto had kunai and shuriken out as soon as they heard missing-nin and noticed the slash through her hitai-ate.

Kireina waved her hands frantically, "Matte! Matte! She's one of those missing-nin I told you about."

The three chuunin relaxed a little after seeing Kakashi make no move.

Tanayo bowed to the group, "Hajimemashite. Watashi no namae wa Akamisu Tanayo. Ano, watashi wa Kireina-san no tomodachi." (It's nice to meet you. My name is Akamisu Tanayo. I am Kireina-san's friend.)

Team 7 bowed in return and introduced themselves.

Tanayo raised an eyebrow, "Uchiha, eh? Any relation to you?"

Kireina walked over to Sasuke and put an arm around his shoulder, "This is my cousin, now my little brother."

"Ah, so that means he's Itachi-kun's little brother then?"

"Hai."

"Soo desu," Tanayo looked at Sasuke, "Your brother talks about you a lot."

Sasuke clenched his fist, "Yeah right."

Tanayo smiled slightly, "No. He does. As a matter of fact, he should be around here somewhere."

Sasuke glared, "You're friends with him? He killed my entire family. OUR entire family."

"No I didn't," a voice came from behind a tree.

Kunai and shuriken were whipped out once again as a tall figure stepped out.

Kireina stepped forward and grinned, "So this is my famous cousin, Uchiha Itachi."

Itachi raised an eyebrow, "I didn't know I had a cousin that looked like you."

"That's because we're distantly related. My great-grandmother was your great-grandmother's sister," Kireina explained.

"Itachi-kun, don't you recognize her?" Tanayo asked impatiently.
Itachi eyed Kireina, "Can't say I do."

"She's the Bloodline Ninja you dope!" Tanayo said.

Team 7 raised an eyebrow at what Tanayo had called Itachi.

A look of surprise passed across Itachi's face briefly before it returned to its original stoic gaze.

He smirked and nodded toward her, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Kireina inclined her head politely.

"Wait. You said you didn't kill your family. Then who did?" Kakashi asked.

Itachi turned toward the rest of them, "My uncle, Uchiha Santori."

"Santori-ji-san?" Sasuke sounded confused, "That's impossible. He loved our family and he was always involved in our family activities."

Itachi nodded, "That's why no one ever suspected him except Hokage-sama."

Kakashi's face had a look of realization on it, "Is that why Hokage-sama ordered that decree saying should you choose to return, you should not be killed? He knew you didn't kill your entire clan!"

Itachi confirmed this, "I returned home from a mission that day and found Okaa-san and Otou-san bleeding on the floor. Okaa-san was still alive. When I looked around I saw all our other family members slaughtered like pigs as well. Okaa-san wanted me to hold her and Otou-san, that's why there was blood all over my clothes. I fought with Santori and killed him. That was how I received the Mangekyou Sharingan. Santori was my closest friend. He was the one who told me about the Mangekyou Sharingan before I killed him. Sasuke walked in right after I had just killed Santori so I was bloody, holding bloody kunais, and standing over bloody people. It was natural to assume that I had been the one to kill them. I decided to allow Sasuke to think that and left. Before I left the village I went to Hokage-sama and informed him of the events and pleaded with him to carry on the charade that I, Uchiha Itachi, was an S-class missing-nin and mass murderer."

Sasuke took this all in with a shocked look then spoke up, "Why didn't you ever return then?"

Itachi looked down, "I couldn't. Not after I had led everyone to believe I was a criminal."

"Why did you join Akatsuki then? Why did you come after Naruto?" Kakashi asked.

Itachi laughed, "I'm the one who formed Akatsuki. Akatsuki is not a criminal missing-nin organization like most villages are led to believe. It's actually an organization of shinobi and kunoichi who were either shunned for their power or were classified as missing-nin unrighteously. Most think we're an organization of only nine, but in reality it's only our council of leaders that consists of nine people. There are over 20 people in Akatsuki. The reason we came after Naruto was because Orochimaru was after him too. Orochimaru is afraid of Akatsuki. He too thinks we are an organization of S-Class criminals. He was never part of Akatsuki like most villages believe. He asked to join our organization thinking it was a criminal organization but we rejected him knowing he was an S-class missing-nin due to his own selfishness. When he heard we were 'after' Naruto, he ceased his chase. Unfortunately, he turned his sights on my little brother and by the time Akatsuki got wind of this, Sasuke had already left to seek power from Orochimaru to kill me."

Tanayo and Kireina didn't look surprised at all. The others were silent, trying to digest this information.

"Reina-nee-chan. Those missing-nin you met. They were the Akatsuki weren't they?" Sasuke asked.

Kireina nodded, "Yes. However during the few months I was with them. Your nii-san was out with Kisame tracking Naruto so I never got a chance to meet him."

Kakashi spoke up, "Reina-chan. We have to get going. Hokage-sama expects us back in Konoha by the end of today."

Kireina looked startled, "Have we been talking that long?"

Itachi nodded apologetically, "Hai. Gomen ne. My story took longer than I thought it would."

"It's all right. Will you be returning to Konoha?" Kireina asked.

Itachi shook his head, "No. The Akatsuki need me or else they really will turn into a criminal organization. I've left Kisame in charge for long enough. I'm afraid he won't be able to keep them in control for long now. Tanayo is the only other one who is patient enough and she came with me this time."

"Will you help us though? The Cloud has declared war on Konoha. Will you help us if need be?" Kireina inquired.

Itachi smiled gracefully, "The Akatsuki and I would be happy to help. Just send one of your summonings."

Kireina looked surprised, "How did you know I had more than one?"

"The Bloodline Ninja is not only famous for her bloodlines and perfect use of them. She's also famous for her talent, skill, the jutsus she created, and for her numerous summonings," Itachi explained.

Kireina blushed. "Stop it. You're making my head swell," she muttered.

Team 7's chuunin stared at Kireina. "Is that what you didn't want us to know?" Sakura asked.

Kireina nodded sighing.

"Gomen," Itachi apologized, "I didn't realize."

Kireina waved her hand dismissing the apology, "It's fine. Anyway, we need to go back to Konoha now."

Itachi and Tanayo nodded and bowed, "Ja ne." Then the two melted into the shadows.

"Ano, Reina-nee-chan, when you use your Sharingan, I noticed that it's fully formed and you have the Mangekyou Sharingan. Who did you kill?" Sasuke asked.

Kireina smiled, "I didn't kill anyone. I just trained very hard, but I suppose you could say I killed nature. I loved nature and while I was training, I always trained near rivers and against trees. So I killed quite a few trees and bloodied a few rivers before I achieved Mangekyou Sharingan."

"Does that mean I can get it too, without killing my closest friend?" Sasuke asked.

Kireina smiled, "It requires much dedication and hard work, but I believe you can do it."

Sasuke smiled back at Kireina.


I've read a lot of stories about Naruto and sometimes I get those stories mixed up with the real storyline. One such example is the bit about the Mangekyou Sharingan being achieved by killing your best friend.I can't remember if that's true or if I read the in a story somewhere. Either way, I'm not the one who came up with it so credit goes to either the creator of Naruto or to the person that I accidently took it from XD Also, Itachi will definitely be very OOC in this story, because I love Itachi and I think Itachi is sooooo kakkoi (cool) and I think the Akatsuki is awesome too so that's why they're good in this. Like I said before, I started writing this story around chapter 240 something in the manga so the story follows the manga plotline up to around there. I know Itachi attacked Kakashi and stuff, but pretend he did all of that to keep his facade up. Sorry, but I didn't think it would do me any good to go back and explain every bad thing Itachi does in the manga/anime.