The Chunin exams were coming up fast. Hana was feeling extremely nervous, and the boiling hot night was making it difficult for her to get a good sleep. The following day, her team would be training together. Sumi had been acting off with her, and even Nari (who was totally clueless most of the time) had noticed. Hana was too occupied with training to bother with her. She was barely showing up, and when she did, she wasn't putting in any work at all. If she wanted to drop them, Hana thought, she was welcome to. After all, she had refused to tell Hana what she and Sasuke had discussed the night of their date.

Tossing in her sleep, Hana could feel a cold breeze against her bare shoulder. For a second, it didn't register with her. It was a hot night, after all. Then she remembered she had intended to open her bedroom window - but fell asleep before she could find the energy to do so. Sitting up bolt-right in the bed, she spotted a tall, thin male in a cloak standing at the end of her bed. She reached for a shuriken, which she always kept on the floor beside her bed, but the male moved quickly to her side and snatched it from her hands before she could throw it. She froze up, gazing up at the Sharingan eyes staring intently into hers. From the moment she spotted them, she knew exactly who they belonged to.

"Itachi?" she whimpered. A thin finger reached up to his lips, and a soft "shh" sound emerged. Hana's bottom lip wobbled.

"It's okay, Hana. Go back to sleep."

"You haven't been here in so long" she said weakly.

"I know" he muttered, "It's been a busy few months."

Snuggling into her blankets, Hana hugged her knees beneath them. A gentle hand cupped her cheeks and wiped her tears away. Itachi was so gentle.

"You've grown up."

"I suppose I have" she whispered in response, "it's only been eight months."

She didn't want Sasuke to wake up - that would mean Itachi would leave.

Itachi smiled a little bit. He used to come to visit often...and they would talk well into the night. Of course, Sasuke had no idea. No one did. He would sneak in disguised as someone else, jumping from roof to roof and then he would swing in her bedroom window. That was how Hana knew Itachi was innocent. Because he told her EVERYTHING.

At first, he admitted, he would sneak in to watch her sleep. Ever since she was a small girl. He said it was because he missed her the most. She doubted that, he and Sasuke had been much closer - or that's how it felt at the time.

Nevertheless, he swore her to secrecy. Sasuke was to never find out about Itachi's secret. He had to kill him. Of course, Hana cried every time he mentioned that. So, he hadn't mentioned it in two or three years. He knew she was soft and emotional, unlike most of the clan who were more severe in their approach to things.

"What have you been doing all this time?" she questioned after a few seconds silence.

"Missions" he told her, "mostly S rank."

"You're lucky" she sighed, "I'm not even nearly strong enough to do S rank missions."

"You're only twelve" he told her.

"You remembered" she giggled, "about my birthday."

"Of course I did. Speaking of which" he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, neatly wrapped gift. Hana gasped with happiness, kneeling up on the bed and taking it from him.

"What is it?" she whispered loudly. He hushed her, while chuckling.

"Open it and see for yourself."

She practically ripped open the packaging, and inside was a Uchiha pendant necklace. A bright smile spread across her face, warming her older brother's heart.

"I love it" she grinned, "thank you."

She opened the clip, then placed the necklace on around her neck. Itachi was happy, so happy. He was finally with his younger sister for the first time in a long time. Life felt...normal with her. She didn't hate him, or want to kill him.

"How's training?" he questioned.

"Hard" she admitted, "but it's going well. I think. Mostly. Sumi is acting odd and...even Nari noticed."

"Must be serious then" Itachi said, sighing.

"I know, right?" she sighed as well, hugging her knees once more, "I keep asking her what's wrong but she won't tell me."

"That's all you can do for now" he told her, "she will let you know when she's ready."

"I hope so. I don't want her getting hurt, and I don't want us to fail the chunin exams in a few weeks."

Itachi seemed surprised.

"You're doing your Chunin exams already?" he asked.

"Uhuh! Are you proud, big brother?" she asked with a glint in her eyes.

"Of course..." he trailed off, blinking a couple of times.

Hana frowned deeply.

"Hana...how's Sasuke getting on?"

They barely spoke of him. It was rare, and Hana was taken aback.

"U-uh. He's fine. Moody and boring, as usual."

She blushed a dark red, recalling their kiss and her romantic feelings for him that had formed since they last spoke. There was NO WAY she would tell Itachi about that, he wouldn't be happy. For good reason.

He nodded, a tiny smile pulling at the corners of his mouth, but it quickly faded. He was playing with his fingers, something Hana knew was nerves but had never seen him do before.

"What's wrong, big brother?" she asked.

"Hana?" he said once she had asked, startling her.

"Hm?"

"Do you like it here in Konoha?"

"Wha-? Well, sure I do" she smiled, "I've made a lot of friends and-yeah. I do miss you though, big brother."

"Oh, I see. I miss you too, you know?"

"I know you do."

"Hana..." he started once more - took a deep sigh, then continued - "don't you think...there's more to see in the world than Konoha?"

"I do. I think about that a lot" she said, tapping her chin. Itachi frowned, she wasn't understanding what he was trying to say.

"I want you to come with me" he then said.

Hana's hand froze. The world seemed silent for a second, like...nothing existed. Her thoughts became panicked. Leave Konoha? With Itachi? Leave Sumi and Nari and...Sasuke?

"i can't" she quickly responded, hugging her knees tighter, "I can't leave Sasuke alone. He'll be sad."

"Don't worry about Sasuke" he told her, "Sasuke is fine. He doesn't need anyone."

"Where will we go?" she asked, burying her head into the blankets.

"Far away from everyone."

"Don't be stupid, Itachi. You know I belong here with Sasuke" she told him. He reached a hand up, poking her forehead gently. Hana's eyes widened.

"Think about it, little sister. Please."

Hana hesitated.

"I-I will."

"Good. I best be off. It's almost morning, and I must meet my partner for a mission. I will be back once your exams have finished. I expect you will have come to a conclusion by then. I love you."

He pressed a small kiss to her forehead. Hana smiled.

"I love you too, big brother. I will have your answer then."

"Goodnight."

He took a seat on her window sill, and within seconds - he was gone. Hana was still sat up in her bed, hugging her bruised knees. Looking out the window, she let out a small whimper.

Leave Konoha? Could she really do something like that? Why did Itachi want her to leave, when he had told her he wanted her to stay before?

He had told her that Konoha was a great village to live in. That he would still be there had he not been ordered to kill everyone in the clan except Hana and Sasuke and...that he wanted her to be happy above all else. She lay back, closing her eyes lightly. Visits from her older brother always ended in tears, but a happiness in the pit of her stomach, and a tingle in her chest. Like, that was the way it should be. The three of them, their mom and dad living happily and peacefully in their part of the village. That wasn't the reality, though...and now Hana had to make a tough choice.

Leave Konoha with Itachi...

or stay with Sasuke.